Estoy nadando con mi hermana en la piscina para refrescarnos.

I

Breakdown of Estoy nadando con mi hermana en la piscina para refrescarnos.

• en: in
• mi: my
• para: to
• con: with
• estar: to be
• nadar: to swim
• la piscina: the pool
• la hermana: the sister
• refrescar: to cool

Questions & Answers about Estoy nadando con mi hermana en la piscina para refrescarnos.

Why does the sentence use Estoy nadando instead of just Nado?

Spanish uses the present progressive (estar + gerund) to emphasize that the action is happening right now. Nado can also mean “I swim,” but it’s more general, without stressing that it is taking place at this very moment.

Why do we say para refrescarnos at the end instead of para refrescar?

Para refrescarnos includes the reflexive pronoun nos, showing that both the speaker and their sister are refreshing themselves. Using just para refrescar would be more general and wouldn’t indicate who is being refreshed.

Why is en la piscina used instead of a la piscina?

The preposition en indicates location (being in or inside something). A la piscina would suggest movement towards the pool rather than being in it. Since the action is taking place inside the pool, en la piscina is correct.

Is there a difference between using mi hermana and la hermana?

Yes. Mi hermana specifically refers to your own sister. La hermana would mean “the sister” in a more general or impersonal sense. Since you’re talking about your own family member, mi is used to show possession.

Is piscina the only word for “swimming pool” in Spain?

Piscina is the most common term in Spain. Another word you might encounter in some varieties of Spanish is pileta, but this is more commonly used in parts of Latin America. In Spain, piscina is standard and widely understood.