The Simple and Progressive forms of the Present appear similar in expressive purpose and function in both, Spanish and English. However, on closer examination, important differences become apparent.
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Question #2 - Gloss.?
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Question #10 - Gloss.?
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for generally recurring actions. These need not be occuring at the moment of speech; only the truth of the statement must still be valid.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for generally recurring actions. These need not be occuring at the moment of speech; only the truth of the statement must still be valid.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Unusual or ambiguous choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for generally recurring actions. These need not be occuring at the moment of speech; only the truth of the statement must still be valid.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a normal, customary, recurring action.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for generally recurring actions. These need not be occuring at the moment of speech; only the truth of the statement must still be valid.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an anticipated future action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an anticipated future action.
English uses both forms as alternatives for expressing actions to occur in the near future, anticipated at the moment of speech. Spanish uses only the simple present, the progressive being out of the question.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an anticipated future action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an anticipated future action.
English uses both forms as alternatives for expressing actions to occur in the near future, anticipated at the moment of speech. Spanish uses only the simple present, the progressive being out of the question.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a sequence of finished actions.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a sequence of finished actions.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for a sequence of finished actions unfolding and being reported.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a sequence of finished actions.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a sequence of finished actions.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for a sequence of finished actions unfolding and being reported.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for a sequence of finished actions.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for a sequence of finished actions unfolding and being reported.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Improper treatment of 'state depicting verbs'.
Proper treatment of 'state depicting verbs'.
Rules discussed in point 2) of the Grammatical Explanations, do not hold true for verbs depicting 'inner states' rather than 'processes' or 'actions'. The simple present must be used in both languages for an on-going situation. In addition, Spanish does not allow the progressive for a current 'state of affairs'.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Improper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Unusual or ambiguous choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Unusual or ambiguous choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Unusual or ambiguous choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
Proper choice of 'simple' vs. 'progressive' form for an ongoing present action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Proper use of verbs other than 'estar' in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Other verbs, besides estar, can be used as auxilliaries in the construction of the Spanish progressive present. Examples are: andar, seguir, continuar, ir, venir, etc. They each add their particular nuances, which may introduce changes to the rules valid for estar.
Improper use of verbs in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Proper treatment of 'state depicting verbs'.
Rules discussed in point 2) of the Grammatical Explanations, do not hold true for verbs depicting 'inner states' rather than 'processes' or 'actions'. The simple present must be used in both languages for an on-going situation. In addition, Spanish does not allow the progressive for a current 'state of affairs'.
Improper treatment of 'state depicting verbs'.
Proper use of verbs other than 'estar' in the construction of the 'progressive present'.
Other verbs, besides estar, can be used as auxilliaries in the construction of the Spanish progressive present. Examples are: andar, seguir, continuar, ir, venir, etc. They each add their particular nuances, which may introduce changes to the rules valid for estar.
The Simple and Progressive forms of the Present appear similar in expressive purpose and function in both, Spanish and English. However, on closer examination, important differences become apparent.
We follow the treatment in M. S. Whitley, Spanish/English Contrasts.
The items covered are:
The progressive form of the present is constructed with the verb estar as an auxilliary verb together with the present participle of the verb describing the action.
For an ongoing action at the moment of speech, English uses the progressive. Spanish uses the simple present; the progressive is used if the continuing nature of the action at the moment of speech needs to be stressed.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for generally recurring actions. These need not be occuring at the moment of speech; only the truth of the statement must still be valid.
English uses both forms as alternatives for expressing actions to occur in the near future, anticipated at the moment of speech. Spanish uses only the simple present, the progressive being out of the question.
Both Spanish and English coincide in using only the simple present for a sequence of finished actions unfolding and being reported.
Rules discussed in point 2) of the Grammatical Explanations, do not hold true for verbs depicting 'inner states' rather than 'processes' or 'actions'. The simple present must be used in both languages for an on-going situation. In addition, Spanish does not allow the progressive for a current 'state of affairs'.
Other verbs, besides estar, can be used as auxilliaries in the construction of the Spanish progressive present. Examples are: andar, seguir, continuar, ir, venir, etc. They each add their particular nuances, which may introduce changes to the rules valid for estar.
Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.
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