Use of sto + gerund
Hi all,
I'm only now learning about Italian gerunds and have a question about their use.
Sto studiando - I'm studying.
Does it have to be at that very moment? Or can it be used as follows:
Sto studiando l'italiano perche..(At this time assume you're speaking to someone and not actually studying at that very moment)
Or would you just use:
Studio l'italiano perche...
In English, both are fine but are they interchangeable in Italian in this context?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 2
1
One exception would be for the future use:
"Tomorrow I'm studying Italian", that is: "Tomorrow I'm going to study Italian for 2 or 3 hours in the afternoon", the Italian speakers use the present tense: "Domani studio Italiano", or "Domani ho intenzione di studiare Italiano per 2 o 3 ore nel pomeriggio".
1
What you supposing is right!
Sto studiando l'iatliano perche` <frase secondaria>
Studio l'iatliano perche` <frase secondaria>
Are both fine.
There is at least a notable exception:
fif the action is stable, i.e. it could last for a long, long time you cannot use /gerundio/ :
Esempi:
1a) dove vivi?
1b.1) vivo a Trento.
1b.2) sto vivendo a Trento.
(1b.1) and (1b.2) are both correct, but with (1b.2) the speaker gives a solid hint that in some time, or after some event he will change.
2a) che lavoro fai?
2b.1) faccio l'insegnante.
2b.2) sto facendo l'insegnante.
2b.3) sto facendo l'insegnante qui in Germania, ma il mio vero lavoro e` di programmatore.
Here an answer of the kind (2b.2) will probably trigger another question, like:
E che altri lavori hai fatto?
E` un lavoro temporaneo?
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