Are two verbs next to each other supposed to be conjugated depending on the tense?

Question

Hi! So, I wrote an in class essay and I have to correct it and I'm a bit confused on my professor's correction for verb tense.

I wished to say, "When I am not studying, I like to watch my favorite shows on Netlifx," so I wrote, "Cuano yo no estoy estudiar, me gusta ver mis programes favoritos en Netflix."

My professor underlines "estudiar" and said the verb tense is incorrect, however, I thought that if there are is a verb following an already conjugated verb, you would not conjugate the second verb.

Also, could I take out estoy completely and just say, "Cuando yo no estudio, me gusta ver..." or do I need to keep "estoy?"

Thank you!

Welcome to SpanishDict. You need to ask your teacher about what is confusing you. What did he/she say? - rac1, Dec 2, 2016

@rac1. The problem is that many teachers don't take the time to explain. Many in my opinion are not qualified to teach. - Daniela2041, Dec 2, 2016

exactly, that is what happened with my spanish profesora. she doesn't take time to explain. - nepal15, Dec 2, 2016

Answer 1

The problem is that English verbs ending in "ing," are sometimes translated by an infinitive, and other times by the present participle. The present participle in English is a verb in its "ing form. --talking, walking. singing, etc.

The present participle when used with the forms of the verb "estar" forms a tense called the present progressive. Present progressives in English sounds like, "I am eating tacos." He is watching TV.

You get the present participle in Spanish by removing the "ar" from "ar verbs, and replacing it with "ando" Trabajar---trabajando caminar ---caminando.

With "er/ir" verbs you do the same thing, that is, remove the "er" or "ir" ending and replace with "iendo." "comer" ---comiendo. "Vivir" ---"viviendo."

Verbs whose stems end in a vowel change the spelling a little to "yendo" so for "leer" you have "leyendo and traer, you have "trayendo. NOTE: This is not true for "ar" verbs.

Here is a example with "ar" verbs. "Cuando no estoy trabajando, me gusta leer libros o ver la televisión. (When I am not working I like to read books or watch TV.

So what you need to do now, if you understand all the above, is to edit your post, putting up the correct version of your answer. I will be waiting to see it.

Nice answer. :) - rac1, Dec 2, 2016

@rac1. Great answer, I'd say. :) - tesss, Apr 26, 2017

Answer 2

Estar is an auxiliary verb. Should be "estoy estudiando". So for that verb he is right but you are correct that the second verb does not get conjugated the majority of the time. Thats my take from what I have learned.