Which verbs cannot be used in the present progressive tense?

Question

¡Hola a todos!

Which verbs in Spanish cannot be used in the present progressive tense?

For example: Looking through the ads online, he found an interesting offer. Being so smart he will get an offer soon.

I translated this sentence as: Mirando los anuncios en línea, él encontró una oferta interesante. Siendo tan inteligente, conseguirá una oferta pronto.

My professor seemed to suggest that using "mirando" at the beginning of the sentence is bad Spanish.

Another example: "Look, she's coming towards us," said Paco. I translated this sentence as follows: «Mira, ella está viniendo hacia nostros», dijo Paco.

My professor said the sentence should be: "Mira, ella viene hacia nostros", dijo Paco.

Please help!

Answer 1

En la primera oración, "Mirando" es correcto. Se lee: "By looking at ads, he found an interesting offer/deal. El gerundio, cuando se utiliza aquí, no tiene sentido.

Muchos hispanohablantes no utilizan mucho el progresivo de indicativo. Prefieren el indicativo simple. No se equivoca tu oración pero sólo una preferencia que es menos utilizado depende del dialecto.

Answer 2

As a Spanish teacher, I say listen to him/her. All of these answers are good, I could also throw in my two centavitos' worth but it's not needed here. Enhorabuena amigos.

Please do. i would like to talk to you on Skype. - chileno, Nov 13, 2014

Answer 3

Se oye bien.

Answer 4

Im Spanish and I want to ask: what´s present progressive?. I never have heard it before..´

En los EEUU el presente progrosivo se oye así: Pedro está comiendo tacos. Yo estoy trabajando, etc. Estoy segura de que en España se usa el presente progresivo, tal vez tiene otro nombre.. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

Answer 5

Both of your versions are correct and also the teacher's version.

ella viene a nosotros = she's coming to us/she comes to us.

Answer 6

Often when in English we would use the gerund to start a sentence (as in your first example) in Spanish we use the infinitive. Mirar.

PapoPaz covered the second sentence perfectly. In Spanish the present simple is often used where an English speaker wants to use the present progressive. I know that I am guilty of this all the time.