The idea
Use the German activity verb as the finite verb: ich lese gerade. Progressive constructions exist in German too, but they are not obligatory equivalents of estar plus gerund.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses estar plus a gerund for an ongoing activity. German can express that activity with an ordinary present verb and gerade; the Portuguese auxiliary does not require a German sein construction.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Wir sind warten auf den Bus.Wir warten gerade auf den Bus.Use the German activity verb as the finite verb: ich lese gerade. Progressive constructions exist in German too, but they are not obligatory equivalents of estar plus gerund.
Examples
- Wir warten gerade auf den Bus zur Ausstellung.We are waiting for the bus to the exhibition right now.
- Meine Schwester arbeitet gerade an einem neuen Entwurf.My sister is working on a new draft right now.
- Ich lese im Moment die Hinweise zur Anmeldung.I am reading the registration instructions at the moment.
- Der Nachbar repariert gerade das Gartentor.The neighbor is repairing the garden gate right now.
- Die Kinder malen gerade ein großes gemeinsames Bild.The children are painting a large shared picture right now.
- Worüber sprecht ihr gerade so ausführlich?What are you discussing in such detail right now?
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Use the German activity verb as the finite verb: ich lese gerade. Progressive constructions exist in German too, but they are not obligatory equivalents of estar plus gerund.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Wir sind warten auf den Bus.
Show answer or example answer
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus.
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus. Use the German activity verb as the finite verb: ich lese gerade. Progressive constructions exist in German too, but they are not obligatory equivalents of estar plus gerund.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: We are waiting for the bus to the exhibition right now.
Show answer or example answer
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus zur Ausstellung.
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus zur Ausstellung. Use the German activity verb as the finite verb: ich lese gerade. Progressive constructions exist in German too, but they are not obligatory equivalents of estar plus gerund.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: The children are painting a large shared picture right now.
Show answer or example answer
Die Kinder malen gerade ein großes gemeinsames Bild.
Die Kinder malen gerade ein großes gemeinsames Bild. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Wir sind warten auf den Bus.
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: We are waiting for the bus to the exhibition right now.
Wir warten gerade auf den Bus zur Ausstellung.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: The children are painting a large shared picture right now.
Die Kinder malen gerade ein großes gemeinsames Bild.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Wir warten gerade auf den Bus.”. Check each one for the Brazilian Portuguese habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.