èsser a + Infinitive
Being in the Middle of Doing
Èsser a plus an infinitive means to be in the middle of doing something.
How It Works
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| ieu | Soi a legir. | Èri a legir. |
| tu | Ès a legir. | Èras a legir. |
| el, ela | Es a legir. | Èra a legir. |
| nosautres | Sèm a legir. | Èrem a legir. |
| vosautres | Sètz a legir. | Èretz a legir. |
| eles, elas | Son a legir. | Èran a legir. |
The plain present also covers an action in progress, so Legissi can mean I am reading. Soi a legir stresses that it is happening right now.
The imperfect often sets a scene for another event: Èra a manjar quand Joan es arribat.
For the future, use vau plus an infinitive (Vau legir). Èsser a describes what is happening now or was happening then.
Examples (5)
- Soi a escriure una letra a Maria.
I am writing a letter to Maria.
Soi a plus the infinitive escriure.
- Joan es a manjar.
Joan is eating.
Es a manjar describes the action in progress.
- Son a jogar dins lo pargue.
They are playing in the park.
Son a works for a plural subject.
- Sèm a dinnar.
We are having lunch.
Sèm a plus dinnar.
- Èri a dormir quand as telefonat.
I was sleeping when you phoned.
Èri a is the imperfect, with another event breaking in.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the a.
Soi legir.Soi a legir.Èsser needs a before the infinitive to say that the action is in progress.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Èsser a plus an infinitive uses a before an infinitive, so a and the infinitive come first.
Related Patterns
- Present of èsser
The forms of èsser are the same ones: soi, ès, es, sèm, sètz, son.
Level 1 - Imperfect of èsser
The imperfect forms are èri, èras, èra, èrem, èretz, èran.
Level 3 - anar + InfinitiveNear Future with Anar
Anar plus an infinitive points to the future, while èsser a points to now.
Level 2 - començar de, començar aBeginning to
Another verb that joins an infinitive with a.
Level 3 - Compound Past or Imperfect
The imperfect èra a gives the scene, and the compound past gives the event.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice èsser a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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