Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hi,

Re: Your comment to John below:

"A separate lesson about "Esto" will be soon released, where it is tested separately because we understand it can be a bit confusing."

I did a quick search for this lesson, but without a title didn't find it, I was wondering if it was made and if so, how to find it.  Thank you. Nicole

My understanding is that in Spanish, “un billón” represents a different quantity from “a billion”in English, and this should not be directly translated, but is rather the same as “mil millón.” 

Is my info wrong? Can there be regional variation?

Considering estar can be used in the preterite and imperfect with the present participle ( gerund ), are they used in different ways?  Or do they mean the same thing?  For example, do: 

"Estuve corriendo" and "estaba corriendo" mean the same thing?  I was running.  Is one used more than the other for any reason? 

HI,

In the example sentences I have now come across 'de la tarde' and 'por la tarde' both meaning 'in the afternoon'.

Are they interchangeable?

Thank you.

Regards,

Colin

In "....ayuda a reducir los efectos...".  is the "a" required because ayudar always takes "a" before an infinitive?  If followed by a human or animal the "personal a" is also required, e.g. Ayudo a mi padre, but not if the object is inanimate. Is this correct?