Answers
Mar 22, 2012 - 10:35 AM
The use of the gerund, that is the "ing" endings in Spanish is a bit different from English in some cases.
You can use it in the past: "Estaba estudiando" -- "I was studying" which is the same as in English, and it means a continuous action during a period of time.
However in Spanish, when you speak about making a visit, it is rather under the infinitive form "to visit" - "Visitar", because it is usually understood as a single, fixed action.
If you used "Visitando" you would have to say several things happening at the same time of your visit, which in the sentence: "Pasé un tiempo por la costa antes de visitar su pueblo" does not happen, because you spent some time around the coast -before-, you visited his town.
Hope this helps!
You can use it in the past: "Estaba estudiando" -- "I was studying" which is the same as in English, and it means a continuous action during a period of time.
However in Spanish, when you speak about making a visit, it is rather under the infinitive form "to visit" - "Visitar", because it is usually understood as a single, fixed action.
If you used "Visitando" you would have to say several things happening at the same time of your visit, which in the sentence: "Pasé un tiempo por la costa antes de visitar su pueblo" does not happen, because you spent some time around the coast -before-, you visited his town.
Hope this helps!
Mar 26, 2012 - 01:52 PM
I see - thanks for the explanation. I guess I wasn't properly considering the tense. I was just looking at "ing" words as standalone words without considering how tense alters the translation.
Mar 27, 2012 - 11:12 AM
You're welcome : )