how can I translate this sentence ?
Hi everyone
I don't know if I should translate this sentence (Tú no estás comiendo carne) as You don't eat meat or You are not eating meat. I don't think this action is in progressive form but since it's used Gerund comiendo so I was confused.
So is it different if I say Tú no comes carne
Gracias !!
2 Answers
If you are translating a sentence you have seen in Spanish I would translate it is as:
'You are not eating meat'
To me this emphasises the person is not eating meat at that moment eg If I am sitting next to a friend in a cafe and say 'you are not eating meat' I am referring to the meal they are eating at the moment. No comes carne - is you don't eat meat. I would say that about a person who chooses not to eat meat and it is about an action that may have started that day but is more likely to be a state that has and is continuing for some time eg a vegetarian.
If you were ordering the person not to eat meat it would be
No comas carne
Oshnaj has explained in an earlier post that though in English we often use the gerund in Spanish they often use just the present tense. I haven't linked to his earlier answer but you can easily find it.
If the given expression is a present continuous form, then its translation usually follows the same form.
Tú no estás comiendo carne. (= you are not eating meat.)
In English, you don't eat meat is given as a fact. In Spanish, the present simple can even be used when the action is in progress.
