+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Negative Gerunds in Spanish

 
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    1
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Negative Gerunds in Spanish

    If I have a sentence like "La bomba estalló ayer, quemando coches y rompiendo vidrios, pero no causando ninguna muerte.

    Is the use of a negative gerund here incorrect, or does it just sound awkward? Could I change the negative gerund to negative infinitive ("sin causar ninguna muerte") and leave the first two verbs in gerund form?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Senior Member mem286's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Santa Fe, Argentina
    Posts
    1,303
    Rep Power
    3350

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Romado
    Could I change the negative gerund to negative infinitive ("sin causar ninguna muerte") and leave the first two verbs in gerund form?

    Thanks!
    That's exactly what I'd do! Sounds definetly better!


    Hope it helps!

  3. #3
    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    1,241
    Rep Power
    1913

    Default

    Yes, I would do the same...I agree with mem, as usual...

  4. #4
    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Havana,Cuba
    Posts
    1,294
    Rep Power
    1907

    Default

    I also agree and I would like to add that when using the gerund, you have to make sure that the action of the two verbs takes place at the same time.
    La bomba explotó causando la muerte de tres personas. Correcto
    La bomba explotó causando que horas más tarde, tres personas murieran de asfixia. Incorrecto
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie

  5. #5
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Age
    37
    Posts
    107
    Rep Power
    191

    Default Re: Negative Gerunds in Spanish

    El gerundio es correcto si indica simultáneidad, pero no si se refiere al resultado de una acción. Por lo tanto, el tercer gerundio, causando, es incorrecto.

  6. #6
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Age
    37
    Posts
    989
    Rep Power
    1018

    Default Re: Negative Gerunds in Spanish

    Bajo esa regla de la simultaneidad, sería correcto decir "La bomba explotó causando la posterior muerte de tres personas"?

  7. #7
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Age
    37
    Posts
    107
    Rep Power
    191

    Default Re: Negative Gerunds in Spanish

    No, porque en ese caso la muerte es justamente posterior a la explosión. Es un error común en traducción por influencia del inglés, pero debería decirse "La bomba explotó y causó la muerte de tres personas".

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 16
    Last Post: 08-30-2011, 04:36 PM
  2. Double negative?
    By Guadalupe in forum English Language Topics
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-20-2010, 10:55 AM
  3. Spanish audio to Spanish written summary
    By tipem in forum General Spanish to English Translation
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 03-26-2009, 03:57 PM
  4. Negative Goodwill
    By Luciano in forum English to Spanish Financial Translation
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-05-2007, 10:08 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •