Estar y el gerundio Estar and the Gerund

Carlos llama a Priya. Ella esta estudiando para el examen. Lleva dos horas con los libros. Contesta el telefono aunque esta ocupada. Carlos pregunta que esta haciendo.

Carlos calls Priya on a Sunday morning. The phone rings three times before Priya answers. "Hi Carlos, sorry for the delay, I am studying for the maths exam on Tuesday. It is very difficult and I have been at it for two hours with the books. But it doesn't matter, I always have time to talk to you. What's up? Are you alright?" Carlos laughs and replies: "Don't worry, I understand perfectly. I just wanted to know what you are doing. Is the exam very difficult?" "Quite! But anyway, tell me, what do you want?"

La madre de Priya esta cocinando en la cocina. Su padre esta leyendo el periodico en el salon. Su hermano esta jugando videojuegos en su habitacion. Lleva tres horas jugando. Su madre quiere que salga.

Carlos asks what the rest of Priya's family is doing. She looks around and describes the scene. "My mother is cooking in the kitchen, I think she is making rice and vegetables for lunch. My father is reading the newspaper in the living room, as always on Sundays. And my little brother is playing video games in his room, of course. He never stops playing. He has been at the console for three hours straight. My mother has told him to go out but he keeps playing. He is impossible!"

En casa de Carlos: su madre esta hablando por telefono. Su padre esta arreglando el coche en el garaje. El perro esta durmiendo en su cesta. El perro es el mas tranquilo de la familia.

Priya laughs and returns the question. "And what is happening at your place, Carlos?" Carlos also looks around him. "Well look, at my house there is also lots of activity. My mother has been on the phone with my aunt for half an hour, a very long conversation as always. My father is fixing the car in the garage, I think there is a problem with the engine. And my dog Toby is sleeping in his basket by the fireplace. The dog is always sleeping when he is not going to the park. He is the most laid-back of all of us!"

Carlos y Priya comparan sus familias. En casa de Priya: madre cocina, padre lee, hermano juega. En casa de Carlos: madre habla, padre arregla, perro duerme. Carlos y Priya estan hablando por telefono en lugar de estudiar.

Carlos and Priya compare their family situations with humour. "Interesting. At your place your mother is cooking, your father is reading and your brother is playing. At my place my mother is talking, my father is fixing and the dog is sleeping. Everyone is busy doing different things at this moment." Priya laughs. "Exactly! And the two of us are talking on the phone instead of studying or helping at home. We are the most useful of all, aren't we?" Carlos also laughs. "Absolutely! Indispensable!"

Carlos propone ir a la biblioteca manana. Van a estudiar espanol juntos. Priya esta de acuerdo: a las cuatro en la entrada. Su madre la esta llamando para el almuerzo. El arroz ya esta listo.

At the end of the call, Carlos and Priya decide to do something together. "Look Priya, tomorrow Monday after school we go together to the library. There we can study Spanish together, as we also have an exam coming up soon. The library is quiet and we can concentrate. Does that suit you?" Priya answers happily: "Perfect! Tomorrow at four at the library entrance. We bring our Spanish notes and revise everything. And now I will leave you because my mother is calling me for lunch. The rice is ready. See you tomorrow, Carlos!"