Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Vou aprendendo com o padeiro. - I am gradually learning with the baker.

Vou aprendendo com o padeiro.

I am gradually learning with the baker.

Breakdown of Vou aprendendo com o padeiro.

Questions & Answers about Vou aprendendo com o padeiro.

Why does this sentence use vou aprendendo instead of estou a aprender?

While estou a aprender simply states that you are currently learning, using ir as an auxiliary verb (vou) followed by the gerund (aprendendo) emphasizes that the learning is happening gradually, step by step. It means you are picking it up bit by bit over time.

I thought European Portuguese uses a plus the infinitive instead of gerunds like aprendendo. Is this an exception?

Yes, it is a notable exception. For standard ongoing actions, European Portuguese strongly prefers estar a plus the infinitive. However, when using auxiliary verbs like ir (to show gradual progress) or andar (to show frequent repetition), it is very common and natural to use the gerund, even in Portugal. You might occasionally hear vou a aprender, but vou aprendendo is perfectly standard.

Why do we use com here instead of de to mean learning from the baker?

In Portuguese, when you learn from a person by interacting with them or being taught by them, you use aprender com. Using de (as in do padeiro) is understood but usually implies a more passive, observational kind of learning, rather than an active teacher-student dynamic.