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Thread: Negative Gerunds in Spanish

 
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    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!

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    Senior Member mem286's Avatar
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    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!

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    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
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    Yes, I would do the same...I agree with mem, as usual...

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    Moderator SandraT's Avatar
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    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.
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    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.

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    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"?

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    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".

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