“Nadar es sano”: where English says “-ing” and Spanish does not
CEFR A2 · part 2
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
“Vosotros” or “ustedes”: two systems, both rightRecognising and producing both plural-you systems: “vosotros” with its own verb forms…“He comido” or “comí”: today's pastChoosing the tense for something finished but still inside today, this week or this…“Me levanto”: verbs with a pronoun attachedUsing reflexive verbs for daily routine, and the pairs where adding the pronoun changes…“Muy” or “mucho”Using “muy” in front of adjectives and adverbs, and “mucho” with verbs and nouns…“Llevo dos años aquí”: how long you have been doing itSaying how long something has been going on: “vivo aquí desde hace dos años”, “llevo dos…“Ser” or “estar”: two verbs for one “to be”Choosing between “ser” and “estar” in everyday sentences: who you are and what you are…The rule, in three lines
Where English uses -ing, Spanish very often uses the INFINITIVE: as a subject (nadar es sano), after a preposition (antes de salir, sin hablar, para aprender) and after another verb (quiero comer). The gerund is for one job only: an action in progress, estoy comiendo.
The usual slip. Translating the -ing straight across: nadando es sano, antes de saliendo, después de comiendo.
Why it catches you out. This is the most productive mistake of the level, because English uses “-ing” for three different jobs and Spanish shares only one of them. The rule that works has no exceptions: after a preposition, ALWAYS the infinitive.