comprando, estoy comprando, lo comprando - help!

Question

Can somebody explain to me why it is "estoy comprando" and not just" (yo) comprando" for I am buying/ I buy? If I wanted to say "I am buying it", wouldnt I say "lo comprando"?

Please explain as if I am 4 years old, because that is how I feel at the moment trying to understand a new language!!! lol

Welcome to SpanishDict. Please take a moment and complete your SD profile as it relates to language. Thanks. - rac1, Nov 6, 2016

Answer 1

In English you don't say "I buying", you say "I am buying."

In Spanish the "am' part is "estoy".

For I am buying it, you can use one of two forms. "Estoy comprándolo, or Lo estoy comprando. "lo" means "it" and can be placed before the "am" verb or attached to the "ing" part.

(One of my first teaching assignments was for kintergarteners--5 years old. I hope that kintergarten level isn't too high for you.)

¡Estupendo! Otra razón para no exiliarte, Daniela. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Nov 6, 2016

ok, what does exiliarte mean? I looked it up on google translate. It told me it means "exiliarte" :s - siobhantomkinson, Nov 6, 2016

Exiliarte is exile yourself. - bosquederoble, Nov 6, 2016

Yes, one of the mods (or somebody) recently brought up a two year old thread of mine where I told everybody I was going to quit, and I was frustrated at some of the static coming my way. But they convinced me not to. - Daniela2041, Nov 7, 2016

Answer 2

Comprando literally just means buying, and on its own doesn't specify who's buying something. It is a verb form called the "Gerund" form. To use this form, you put the verb "estar" in front of it and comprando does not change. So, with estar meaning to be, you can break it down literally : Estoy comprando translates to I am buying.

Thank you :) - siobhantomkinson, Nov 6, 2016

Answer 3

Now that you have the answers for question, I will throw in a little wrench. Maybe you can revisit this when you are past the 4 year old level.

In Spanish the present progressive is not used in all the ways we use it in English.

Lo estoy comprando- would imply that I am in the active process of buying it right now, I am in the midst of the activity of doing so.

I am buying a car tomorrow- perfectly legitimate in English, gives you options:

Compro un coche mañana (I buy a car tomorrow, which we do not say in English)

Voy a comprar un coche mañana ( I am going to buy a car tomorrow, works in both languages)

But Estoy comprando un coche mañana, does not work in Spanish, even though I am buying a car tomorrow is fine in English.

I was saving those for second grade. jejeje :) - Daniela2041, Nov 6, 2016