To form the gerund in Spanish, we use the structure:

Verb ESTAR conjugated + Radical of the verb + ending

* For verbs of the first group ending in -AR, the ending is -ANDO.

* For verbs of the 2nd and 3rd group ending in -IR or -ER, the ending is -IENDO.

Example :

Hablar (To speak) ==> Hablando
Andar (To walk) ==> Andando
Comer (To eat) ==> Comiendo
Vivir (To live) ==> Viviendo

 

II. Irregular verbs in the gerund

The irregular verbs in the gerund are :

IR (To go) ==> Yendo
DECIR (To say) ==> Diciendo
REIR (To laugh) ==> Riendo
VESTIR (To dress) ==> Vistiendo
PODER (Can) ==> Pudiendo
SENTIR (To feel) ==> Sintiendo
DORMIR (To sleep) ==> Durmiendo
MORIR (To die) ==> Muriendo
OIR (To hear) ==> Oyendo

N.B : Pronominal verbs change when using the gerund: the reflexive personal pronoun is placed behind the verb and is attached to it.

Example : Despertarse (To wake up) ==> Estoy despertándome ; Vestirse (To dress oneself) ==> Estamos vistiéndonos.

 

III. Use of the gerund

The gerund is always invariable. It is used to emphasize the duration of an action.

Often used with ESTAR, the gerund can also be used with other verbs like IR, SEGUIR, LLEVAR, etc.

The gerund can be used to:

* Express a progressive or continuous action

– Estoy mirando un video ==> I’m watching a video.
– Estoy conduciendo ==> I’m driving.
– La chica está jugando con sus amigas ==> The girl is playing with her friends.

This continuous or progressive action can take place in the past.

– Ayer, toda la tarde, estuve mirando un video ==> Yesterday, all afternoon, I watched a video.
– Iban subiendo ==> They were going up
– Sigue durmiendo ==> He is still sleeping.

* Describing an action that unfolds gradually, with the IR + Gerund structure

El niño va aprendiendo ==> The boy learns little by little.

* Expressing a logical relationship

 Girando a la izquierda, encontraras la farmacia ==> If you turn left, you will find the pharmacy.

* Expressing temporal simultaneity

– Viajando a Argentina, aprendí el español ==> While traveling in Argentina, I learned Spanish.
– Me lo anunció riendo ==> He told me with a laugh.

👉 Practice now!

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