Is this equivalent to ESTAR + GERUND?

Marcos G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Is this equivalent to ESTAR + GERUND?

The title of the question says it all!  Thanks.

Asked 2 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Marcos

It's not exactly the same as estar + gerundio; when we use venir + gerundio we talk about a progressive action but venir + gerundio implies that that action had a beginning in a previous moment, before you say it, so, for example, in this sentence:

Vengo pensando que quizás debería disculparme con Antonio.

I'm thinking that maybe I should apologise to Antonio.


Here, the use of "vengo" implies that the speaker has started to think about his apology to Antonio before, so he's been thinking about it for a while. If the speaker had said the same with estar + gerundio:

Estoy pensando que quizás debería disculparme con Antonio.

I'm thinking that maybe I should apologise to Antonio.

here this doesn't imply any previous thinking, the action of thinking starts when the speaker says it.

I hope this clarifies it.

Saludos

Inma

Marcos G. asked:

Is this equivalent to ESTAR + GERUND?

The title of the question says it all!  Thanks.

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