Portuguese gerund and a + infinitive

An example

Estou lendo and Estou a ler can both mean “I am reading.” The first uses the gerund lendo; the second uses a followed by the infinitive ler.

What to notice

These patterns are not exclusive to one country. A speaker's region and situation matter, and the gerund also has uses beyond the progressive construction.

Try it

Listen for the form after estou or está. Compare two examples on the same topic and check the entire sentence rather than translating an ending in isolation.

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