when to use gerundio
when do i use the gerundio. i.e. Estás yendo al la tienda hoy. o Vas a la tienda hoy.
2 Answers
The gerundio is used only as an adverb or as part of the progressive tense, it is not used to refer to the future or as a noun the way we do in English. See this excellent review- I have only included the cautions at the end as that is where English speakers tend to err.
The use of hoy in your sentence indicates that it is not something being done now, rather later today, so you would not use the gerundio/progressive tense in that situation.
You might say "estoy yendo a la tienda" if someone called you on the cell phone as you were walking there and you wanted them to know that they interrupted you in the midst of that process for example.
Go to the link and read the entirety for better understanding, I only quoted a little of the end of it.
http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/COURSES/GERUND.HTM
Cautions. A few things mentioned above may need to be repeated:
A. The gerund is a verb form with an adverbial function; do not use it as a noun. Use the infinitive as the object of a preposition or as the subject of a verb: después de descansar = “after resting”; Leer es divertido = “Reading is fun”.
B. Do not overuse the progressive tenses, since they are used far less frequently in Spanish than in English, and do not use them unless you are portraying an action as truly being in progress.
C. Remember that “by (do)-ing (something)” is normally expressed with the gerund and not por + infinitive [which means “because of (do)-ing (something)” or “for the sake of (do)-ing something”.
One additional thought--maybe two.
In English we use the "gerund" where Spanish uses the infinititive.
Ex. Practicar el karate me es muy divertido. Practicing karate is a lot of fun for me.
The Spanish gerundio (the "ando" 'iendo' or sometimes "yendo" form) is used along with the verb "estar" to state what we call in English the present progressive form.
"María está comiendo tacos,(nyam nyam) y yo tengo hambre. "Marie is eating tacos, yum, yum, and I'm hungry." "Estoy trabajando", ","I am working." and so forth.
Bosque above states how it is used much less frequently than in English. In Spanish it's used only to speak of action actually going on right now.
Every thing that Bosque has stated is correct, but sometimes beginners haven't a clue as to what certain grammatical expressions mean, like "The gerund is a verb form with an adverbial function." Sheesh! I am a practicing professional in this business and have a hard time understanding such expressions. At the teacher factory they tell you KISS, that is "Keep it simple, stupid!"
There are other uses of the Spanish gerundio, but I will leave them for later, if someone asks.
Some verbs like "ir" are hardly ever heard in the gerundio form. Your sentence which I will make into a question is correct.
¿Vas a la tienda hoy? Are you going to the store today?
Now check this out!
¿Vas a ir a la tienda hoy?
Are you going to go to the store today?
Buena suerte
