Language Transfer Spanish notes
Lesson 35
Being, Staying, and Not Overusing -ing
Language Transfer Complete Spanish is by Mihalis Eleftheriou. Listen to the original audio first; use these notes for revision.
Sinceridad = sincerity → sincero/a = sincere (guessable from the -idad word). Honesto/a = honest.
Is "to be sincere" a state or a characteristic? Spanish looks at the concept itself, not how you're using it. Sincerity is a characteristic → goes with ser. But you CAN say "I am BEING sincere right now" by literally saying estar + being + sincere.
Siendo = being (from ser). Salir = to leave/go out. Salgo = I leave (irregular -go verb). Pronto = soon. La semana que viene = next week ("the week that comes").
Key rule reinforced: If it's not happening RIGHT NOW, don't use estar + gerund. "I'm leaving soon" = Salgo pronto (NOT estoy saliendo). "I'm buying them next week" = Los compro la semana que viene.
Sentences practiced
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Soy sincero. | I am sincere. (masculine speaker, characteristic) |
| Soy sincera. | I am sincere. (feminine speaker, characteristic) |
| Somos sinceras. | We are sincere. (feminine) |
| Somos sinceros. | We are sincere. (masculine/mixed) |
| Estoy siendo sincero. | I am being sincere. (masculine speaker, right now) |
| Estoy siendo sincera. | I am being sincere. (feminine speaker, right now) |
| Estamos siendo honestos. | We are being honest. (right now) |
| Salgo. | I leave. / I go out. |
| Salgo pronto. | I'm leaving soon. (NOT estoy saliendo) |
| Salgo mañana. | I'm leaving tomorrow. |
| Estoy saliendo. | I am leaving. (right now, this moment) |
| Los compro. | I buy them. / I'm buying them. |
| Los compro mañana. | I'm buying them tomorrow. |
| Los compro la semana que viene. | I'm buying them next week. |
| Estoy comprándolos ahora. | I am buying them now. (right now) |
| Los estoy comprando ahora. | I am buying them now. (right now) |