Question 1

How exactly does sigo sin limpiar work to mean 'I am still not cleaning'?

Accepted Answer

The structure seguir + sin + infinitive expresses that a negative state is ongoing. While seguir + gerund means 'to keep doing something', using sin + infinitive literally means 'to continue without doing something'. In this sentence, it translates smoothly to 'I am still not cleaning' or 'I still haven't cleaned'.

Question 2

Why do we use the infinitive limpiar here instead of the gerund limpiando?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, whenever a verb directly follows a preposition like sin, it must be in its infinitive form (limpiar). Even though the English translation uses an '-ing' word ('cleaning'), you cannot use the Spanish gerund (limpiando) directly after a preposition.

Question 3

Could I just say todavía no limpio instead of sigo sin limpiar?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could say pero todavía no limpio la ventana or pero todavía no he limpiado la ventana. However, sigo sin limpiar puts more emphasis on the continuation of the negative state. It draws attention to the fact that time has passed and the task stubbornly remains undone.

Question 4

Why does the first half of the sentence use the preterite (hice) but the second half uses the present (sigo)?

Accepted Answer

This contrasts a completed past action with a present ongoing state. You completely finished making the bed, so hacer is in the preterite (hice). But the state of not cleaning the window is still actively true right now, so seguir is in the present tense (sigo).

Hice la cama, pero sigo sin limpiar la ventana.

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