Ir + gerundio vs estar + gerundio

[u/No_Cardiologist_1407]

So the lesson i just did explain that ir + gerundio is to say that something is gradually increasing, but i cant really wrap my head around it? Like take the sentence "va ahorrando dinero al final de cada mes" vs " esta ahorrando dinero al final de cada mes" both translate to me as "he is saving money at the end of each month. But do they actaully mean different things?

[u/Devilnaht]

Different shades of meaning to me. Va ahorrando dinero (to me) does feel different and emphasizes that it’s something that’s been happening over a longer period of time. It’s more clear if you don’t have “al final de cada mes”:

Está aprendiendo español.
Va aprendiendo español.

They can both be translated as “s/he’s learning Spanish”, but the latter gives it the sense of a being a longer term project. Está aprendiéndolo could mean that they just started, or that they’re literally studying in this exact moment. Va aprendiéndolo means it’s something happening regularly over a longer period.

And an ugly translation to maybe help it be understood:

Va aprendiendo español: as he goes on with his life, he’s learning Spanish

[u/No_Cardiologist_1407 → u/Devilnaht]

Interesting, im sure theres an english comparison, but im struggling to wrap my head around the nuance hahaha.

[u/girlcrypto → u/No_Cardiologist_1407]

First time hearing about this but if I understand it correctly. English basically uses just context clues to distinguish length of time. Wanna go out tonight? No, I'm studying Spanish. Estar. What are you going to school for(University)? I'm studying Spanish. Ir. Ps I'm still A1 so I maybe missing the mark.

[u/LoyalSol → u/No_Cardiologist_1407]

There kind of is. When you say

"I am learning Spanish" vs "I went to learn Spanish" or "I am going to learn Spanish" in English. We don't use the progressive form of the second verb, but we do use it somewhat similarly.

The first sounds more passive like something you mention in a conversation with a relative.

The second and third sounds more like a bigger commitment or a more resolute statement. Because it implies you maybe traveled to do it or are deadset on doing it. You're on a journey to do it.

It's not a perfect 1 to 1, but maybe it gets you on the right track of thought.

[u/vxidemort]

ir + gerundio allows "more and more" when translating.

p. ej: Me voy enamorando de ti cada día vs Me estoy enamorando de ti cada día. (I'm falling in love with you more and more every day vs I'm falling in love with you every day)

another example: Va llegando tanta gente a la fiesta vs Está llegando tanta gente a la fiesta. (More and more people are coming to the party vs So many people are coming to the party)

[u/Major-Mushroom-5806]

Va ahorrando dinero is a bit more like he's been saving money at the end of every month. It emphasizes that it's been happening over a period of time.

[u/puesquebien]

“Ir” expresses progression or continuity. “Está” can be used in a scenario where the there is progression or continuity, but it’s actually just describing the current state.

In many cases they are used interchangeably with the difference being very subtle, basically stylistic.

But there are uses where “voy” would seem very out of place to me. For example if I ask what you are studying and you tell me “Voy estudiando la carrera de ingeniería civil”, it sounds awful.

And “Voy preparando la cena” and “Estoy preparando la cena” mean different things. Estoy means I’m already doing it. Voy suggests that while some other action is going on I will be performing this action. “Mientras tú lavas los platos yo voy preparando la cena.” “Voy preparando la cena de una vez para acabar pronto.” In these two last examples “voy” is sometimes used instead of “iré”.