Lately I have been studying how to get around the prohibition against using the gerundio, or a replacement more widely. Here is what I have deduced from my readings. Can anyone evaluate this and tell me if it makes sense?
Spanish allows a gerundio, (mirando, viajando, escribiendo, and so on) to be used with the present tense of estar if the action is happening in this exact moment , the present progressive
examples allowed include:
01> I am watching him now. Estoy mirándolo,
02>I an traveling to Chicago now Estoy viajando a Chicago ahora
03>My mother is making cookies right now Mi madre está haciendo galletas ahora mismo
But Spanish does not allow using the above in combination with the future Examples prohibited include: 04> I am watching him next week 05> I am traveling to Chicago next month 06> My mother is making cookies next year
However, if the Present Progressive is changed, the future can be linked with the Gerundio or at least with the Infinitive or imperfect (both which can be translated as an ing form) as found below
Do use the Gerundio with estar in past, future and conditional progressives (just not with the Present Progressive! ) Examples: 07> I have been speaking. He estado hablando. 08> I was traveling. Estaba viajando, (implies still currently traveling -past progressive) 09> I was traveling. Estuve viajando, (implies not currently traveling -past progressive) 10> I will be traveling. Estaré viajando, (-future progressive) 11> I would be watching him. Estaría mirándolo, (-conditional progressive)
Do use the Infinitive, in place of the gerundio, by recasting. Examples: 12> I like dancing, (recast as I like to dance or It is pleasing to me to dance), Me gusta bailar. 13> We are eating at 7, (recast as We eat at 7), Nosotros comemos a las siete. 14> Seeing is believing, (recast as To see is to believe), Ver es creer. 15> Speaking Spanish is fun, (recast as To speak Spanish is fun), Hablar español es divertido. 16> I bought the running shoes. (recast as I bought the shoes to run), Compré los zapatos de correr.
Do use the Imperfect in place of the gerundio by recasting, (the Imperfect can be translated as an ing form) example: 17> I was reading when the phone rang Leía cuando el teléfono sonó 18> I was selling cars all last summer Vendía coches todo el verano posada
Do Recast another verb for Estar, such as will or going, and still use the progressive 19> In place of We are leaving tomorrow recast as We will leave tomorrow Saldremos mañana or We are going to leave tomorrow -Vamos a salir mañana