Why does the sentence work without the word "cuando"?

Question

I read a sentence, "Me lastimé el brazo jugando al béisbol." My question is--can I add the word "cuando" before "jugando", or not? Is it redundant to do so?

Answer 1

Your sentence says - I hurt my arm playing baseball. But if you wanted to say 'when I was playing' you would not only need to add cuando but you would need to conjugate jugar into the imperfect past tense. Me lastimé el brazo cuando jugaba al béisbol.

Thanks, Kiwi-Girl. Your answer just pointed out my original question. I think "I hurt my arm playing baseball" is not a sound translation, that's why I asked, "Should I add cuando to - joygogo, Jun 23, 2013

Oops, a typo! "acceptable", not "acceptance." Sorry! - joygogo, Jun 23, 2013

the sentence?" in order to make it sound right. Or, is it a correct and acceptance sentence already? - joygogo, Jun 23, 2013

Strictly speaking "I hurt my arm playing football" is not correct in English but it is how we would say it. - ian-hill, Jun 23, 2013

"I hurt my arm while I was playing football" - would be correct. - ian-hill, Jun 23, 2013

Just like English I think you would hear it both ways :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 23, 2013

Ian, why is it incorrect? - chileno, Jun 23, 2013

Answer 2

I hurt my arm playing baseball vs I hurt my arm (when/while) playing baseball.

Me lastimé el brazo jugando al béisbol o Me lastimé el brazo cuando (o mientras) jugaba al béisbol.

Do you notice any/much difference between the two sentences? The use of cuando makes little difference does it? The meaning is implied without the need for the word.... I believe the same is true in Spanish!..

Kiwi girl is correct that the verb jugar would have to be conjugated to the imperfect instead of the present.indicative.

I hope this helps you