"Anda escuchando..."

Question

In lesson 4.14 this example of using gerunds when talking about continuing actions is given, "Anda escuchando los sonidos de la ciudad." It's translated in the lesson as "He spends his time listening to the sounds of the city." Is this an idiom because I've never seen adar meaning "to spend time".

Good question mate thanks. - ray76, Mar 14, 2014

Answer 1

In my Spanish dictionary, one meaning of "andar" is to spend time, or pass time (doing something). Given this definition, it is not an idiom, but literally means "he spends time listening to the sounds of the city". Andar has many meanings and uses. You might want to go through them in a dictionary and try to become familiar with a few of them. I have often made the mistake of learning one definition of a Spanish word and then thinking it will always mean that when I hear it or see it. This often leads to confusion until one accepts that a word may have uses and meanings that you just haven't learned yet.

Great answer mate , I said that a friendly more knowledgable member would amble by and you did. - ray76, Mar 14, 2014

Nice answer. - annierats, Mar 14, 2014

Answer 2

I would say - Él Pasa su tiempo escuchando los sonidos de la ciudad.

But the context may give more of a clue , your sentence is more like -

"come listen to the sounds of the City , but as you say it may well be

a colloquial expression , and probably is , let us await a friendly and

more knowledgable member to give us the gen.

Answer 3

En ese sentido, andar indica "estar haciendo algo, normalmente en movimiento". Pongo algunos ejemplos:

• ¿Por dónde andas?(¿Dónde estás?) Voy de camino al trabajo. Estoy en casa.
• Ando buscando un libro de filosofía (Estoy buscando...,Llevo un tiempo buscando...)

Gracias amigo. - ray76, Mar 14, 2014

Answer 4

The best option it would be like "estar haciendo algo" In this case "estoy escuchando= ando escuchando"

Pasar tiempo haciendo algo is sometimes a little bit different. You use andar+gerund when you or another person is doing that action but if you use "pasar tiempo+gerund" it doesn't mean necessaryly you are doing it now, for instance:

• Ando escuchando música means I'm listening to music (now or in these days)
• Paso mi tiempo escuchando música. I usually spend my time listen to music (but maybe not in this moment)

You can find more Spanish tips in my website. I hope it can help you!

¡Qué tengan un buen día!

I've had a look at the 'tips' on your website. The presentation is very nice. Congratulations. - 007c5fc1, Mar 14, 2014

I'm happy you like it! - SpanishSkypeorg, Mar 17, 2014