These premises are being monitored by video.
I saw this, in Spanish, on a sign today. It caught my eye for two reasons. But first here it is in Spanish.
Esto premises están siendo monitoreado por video.
What initially caught my eye was the estar ser combination: están siendo....are being.
The second thing was the three conjugated verbs together: están siendo monitoreado...are being monitored.
Finally premises is an English word not as far as I can tell a Spanish word. So a little Spanglish thrown in for good measure.
So here is the challenge.
Find a way to use three conjugated verbs together (with nothing in between them and no infinitives) and give me a sentence.
Okay, here is a hint. It works best with verbs that express state of being or motion or are "helping verbs".
Marguerite's answer of He estado bailando is a perfect example. Haber (helping verb) Estar (state of being) bailando (regular verb).
13 Answers
I think this exercise is great, but I do want to point out, these aren't three conjugated verbs, and if you think they are you will be confused in future studies. This is one conjugated (finite) verb and two non-finite verbs. A conjugated verb requires a subject implied or explicit. So as a tip, if you are seeking a way to form a construction like this, you will need to begin with a finite (conjugated) verb and then use participles or gerunds. Participles and gerunds are classified as "non-finite"in the same way that infinitives are.
Había estado leyendo este libro, pero había una pagina que faltaba.
-He pasado volando, dijo el pájaro.
"I have passed by flying," said the bird.
(Originally was was just going to put "he pasado volando" and then attribute that sentence to a bird; but then I figured why not just put that in my sentence. Then I was like, did I just put 4 conjugated verbs together :O :D !!! silly brain, jiji. But it does sound a little awkward to me, especially in English)
Sigo intentando aprender español .
I keep trying to learn Spanish.
Si hubiera estado dormido no habría leído estas palabras tan preocupantas.
If I were to have stayed asleep// kept on sleeping, I would not have read these worrying words.
After this: Me doy por vencida. No more tonight!
He estado bailando toda la noche con mi novio. I've been dancing all night with my boyfriend.
Esto premises están siendo monitoreado por video.
This is even worse than spanglish and obviously written by one of your paisanos native to English, ja ja.
And to use "siendo" in this case makes no sense, and "monitorizar" is more for things of a nature of study. Este recinto está vigilado por video is much more natural.
Hi gringo:
Esto premises están siendo monitoreado por video.
Este recinto está/estos recintos están siendo monitorizado/monitoreado por video.
This is the correct way to say that in Spanish.
Now, premise as the basis of something. It is the same in Spanish.
Edit:
Bajo la premisa de....
Había estado regando las plantas.
She had been watering the plants.
Soñé que estábamos corriendo en una maratón.
I dreamed that we were running in a marathon.
Second try!
Estábamos yendo corriendo por los pasillos porque se nos hacía tarde.
We were going running across the hallways because we were late.
Estoy aprendiendo a hablar, a leer y a escribir en español..
I'm learning to speak, to read and to write in Spanish.
Yo voy para ir a pescar. I am going to go fishing.
(Gheesh! This is difficult!!
)
I can come sleep over tomorrow.
Puedo venir dormir mañana.
Tu hermano mayor te sigue vigilando ???
Big brother is always watching you? ( Especially Big brother's tax department..)
