Participle + Gerund?
To say that I've been practicing, would it be aceptable to say He Sido Practicando? Drawing a blank. Thanks!
2 Answers
Hello Phils,
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You asked:
To say that I've been practicing, would it be aceptable to say He Sido Practicando? Drawing a blank. Thanks!
In this context, I would use estar here:
He estado practicando = I have been practising
However, when used with a specific period of time you can also say:
Llevo practicando el surf tres meses = I have been surfing for three months
This verbal construction uses the present indicative tense of the verb llevar + the present participle of the required verb. This is an idiomatic construction that is commonly used in Spain and according to my native Spanish teacher is used to refer to actions that are still ongoing/happening. Ex Llevamos viviendo en Madrid diez años. = We have been living in Madrid for ten years. (ie: And we are still living here)
Hace tres horas que jugamos el fútbol = We have been playing football for three hours.
¡Hace dos horas que esperamos por ti! = We have been waiting two hours for you!
This second example is another popular and common way to say that you have been doing something for a particular length of time
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor
Sido is a conjugation of ser, which indicates your nature as a person and not of your state as in what you have been doing or how you have been.
Estado is a conjugation of estar, which indicates your state, ie: He estado practicando.
