Log inSign up

Cuando la cebra huye, la ves escapar del guepardo.

Cuando la cebra huye, la ves escapar del guepardo.
When the zebra flees, you see her escaping from the cheetah.
From Lesson 289:Verbs of perception·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Cuando la cebra huye, la ves escapar del guepardo.

Why does the Spanish sentence use the infinitive escapar when the English translation says 'escaping'?
With verbs of physical perception like ver (to see), you can use the infinitive (escapar) to describe witnessing the action. You could also use the gerund (escapando) to emphasize the ongoing process, but the infinitive is very common in Spanish even when English uses the -ing form.
Since escapar is an infinitive, can I attach the pronoun la to the end of it and say ves escaparla?
In this structure, it is highly preferred to place the pronoun before the conjugated verb. Because the pronoun (la) acts as the direct object of the perception verb (ves)—you are seeing her—it goes right before it: la ves escapar.
What verb does huye come from, and why is it spelled with a 'y'?
It comes from huir (to flee). For Spanish verbs ending in -uir (like huir, construir, destruir), you must change the 'i' to a 'y' in most present tense forms. This spelling change avoids having an unaccented 'i' trapped between two vowels.
Why do we use del (de + el) here instead of desde el for 'from the cheetah'?
The verb escapar pairs with the preposition de to mean 'to escape from' a person, animal, or danger. Desde also means 'from', but it is mostly used for physical starting locations (like 'from the park') or time ('from 3 PM').

Learn Cuando la cebra huye, la ves escapar del guepardo and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →