Las formas no personales del verbo se usan para hablar de acciones sin decir quién las hace ni cuándo pasan.

(Non‑personal verb forms are used to talk about actions without saying who does them or when they happen.)

Infinitive, gerund and participle: what is the real difference?

In this unit you see three verb forms:

  • Infinitive: fumar, vivir, mudarse
  • Gerund: fumando, viviendo, mudándose
  • Past participle: fumado, vivido, mudado

All three are very frequent in real Spanish.

The key to using them well is to connect each form with a function in the sentence.

Step 1 – Recognize the forms quickly

  • Infinitive endings: -ar, -er, -ir
    Examples: visitar, comer, recibir, mudarse
  • Gerund endings: -ando, -iendo
    Examples: visitando, comiendo, recibiendo, mudándose
  • Past participle endings: usually -ado, -ido
    Examples: visitado, comido, recibido, amueblado

First skill: when you read a sentence, ask yourself:

  • Is it the basic form? → probably infinitive
  • Does it look like “-ing”? → probably gerund
  • Does it look like “-ed” / “-en”? → probably participle

Step 2 – When to use the infinitive

In this unit, focus on three very typical uses.

  • 1. Rules, signs, instructions
    We use the infinitive like in English signs: No smoking.
    • No fumar en el edificio. = Smoking is not allowed in the building.
    • No aparcar aquí. = Do not park here.

    Notice: there is usually no subject (no yo, tú, la gente).

  • 2. After another verb
    Very common pattern in Spanish:
    conjugated verb + infinitive
    • Queremos visitar el piso.
    • Prefiero vivir en las afueras.
    • Van a mudarse pronto.

    Think of English: want to visit, prefer to live. The idea is similar.

  • 3. Expressing doubt or options
    Often with verbs like no saber, dudar:
    • No sé si mudarse ahora es buena idea.
    • No sé qué hacer.
    • Dudo entre alquilar o comprar.

    Structure to remember: No sé + qué / si + infinitive.

Step 3 – When to use the gerund

The gerund answers the idea “what is happening now?” or “how?”

  • 1. Action in progress (present continuous)
    • Estar + gerund
    • Está haciendo la mudanza. = He/She is in the middle of moving.
    • Estamos buscando piso. = We are looking for a flat.

    Use this when the action is in progress at this moment.

  • 2. Short answers to “¿Qué haces?”
    • – ¿Qué haces?
      – Buscando piso.
    • – ¿Qué estáis haciendo?
      – Hablando con el dueño.

    You “cut” the verb estar, but the meaning is clear from the context.

  • 3. Indicate how, where or in what way
    • Fue caminando por la calle. = He/She went on foot, walking along the street.
    • Aprende comparando precios. = He/She learns by comparing prices.

    Here the gerund explains how something happens.

Step 4 – When to use the past participle

In this unit, focus on participles that describe the final state of something.

  • 1. With “estar” to describe the state of a thing
    • El piso está amueblado. = The flat is (already) furnished.
    • La oficina está equipada. = The office is equipped.
    • Las cajas están cerradas. = The boxes are closed.

    Think: the action happened before, now we see the result.

Action (process) Result (state)
Están amueblando el piso.
(They are furnishing the flat.)		 El piso está amueblado.
(The flat is furnished.)
Están limpiando la oficina. La oficina está limpia.

Step 5 – Infinitive or gerund? Typical confusions

  • After a conjugated verb (quiero, puedo, voy a…)
    • Use infinitive.
      • Quiero mudarme.
      • Vamos a visitar el piso.
    • Quiero mudándome. ✘
  • To talk about “right now”
    • Use estar + gerund.
      • Ahora mismo estoy preparando la presentación.
    • Ahora mismo preparo la presentación ✔ or ✘?
      Preparo can be correct in Spanish (it can also mean “right now”), but for this unit we want you to practice: estar + gerundio.
  • Short answer to “¿Qué haces?”
    • Use only the gerund.
      • – ¿Qué haces? – Buscando piso.
    • – ¿Qué haces? – Busco piso ahora. ✔ or ✘?
      It is grammatically possible, but the most natural, short spoken answer is with gerund.

Step 6 – Self-check: can you choose the right form?

Cover the right column and test yourself with these quick questions.

Situation Form you need Example
A sign on the wall: “No smoking”. Infinitive No fumar en la oficina.
You want to say what you want to do. Infinitive after a verb Queremos vivir aquí.
You are not sure what to do. Infinitive (doubt) No sé qué hacer.
You are in the middle of an action. Estar + gerund Estoy hablando con el agente.
Short, informal answer to “¿Qué haces?”. Gerund alone Buscando información.
You describe the state of a flat or object. Estar + participle La habitación está reservada.

Step 7 – What to pay special attention to

  • Reflexive verbs in infinitive and gerund
    • Infinitive: pronoun can go before or after:
      • Me quiero mudar.
      • Quiero mudarme.
    • Gerund: pronoun can also go before or after:
      • Me estoy mudando.
      • Estoy mudándome.
    • Choose one style and try to be consistent.
  • Agreement with past participles used as adjectives
    • The participle changes with gender and number.
      • El piso está amueblado.
      • La casa está amueblada.
      • Los pisos están amueblados.
      • Las casas están amuebladas.
    • Check: Does it describe a noun? Then it must agree.

Mini checklist before you speak or write

  1. Am I describing a general action, a rule, or is my verb after another verb? → Infinitive.
  2. Am I talking about what is happening now, or answering “¿Qué haces?”? → Gerund.
  3. Am I describing the state or result of something (the flat, the office, the boxes)? → Estar + participle.
  4. If it is a reflexive verb (mudarse, levantarse), did I put the reflexive pronoun in the right place?
  5. If I use a participle as an adjective, does it agree in gender and number with the noun?

If you can answer these questions confidently, you are ready to use infinitives, gerunds and participles in your conversations about housing and moving.

  1. Infinitive ⇒ used to express actions in general or after another verb.
  2. Gerund ⇒ indicates an action in progress or the way of doing something.
  3. Participle ⇒ describes the result or state of an action.
FormUseExample
InfinitiveNorma o aviso (Rule or notice)No fumar en el edificio.
InfinitiveDespués de otro verbo (After another verb)Queremos visitar el piso.
InfinitiveExpresar duda (Express doubt)No sé si mudarse ahora es buena idea.
GerundAcción en progreso (Action in progress)Está haciendo la mudanza
GerundRespuesta corta (Short answer)-¿Qué haces? -Buscando piso.
GerundIndicar cómo o dónde (Indicate how or where)Fue caminando por la calle.
GerundIndicar la manera (Indicate the way)Aprende comparando precios.
ParticipleDescribir el estado (Describe the state)El piso está amueblado.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Antes de firmar el contrato, es importante ___ bien todas las condiciones.

Before signing the contract, it is important to ___ all the terms carefully.)

2. Estamos pensando en ___ a vivir a las afueras para pagar menos alquiler.

We are thinking of ___ to live in the suburbs to pay less rent.)

3. El piso está recién pintado y ___, pero la cocina sigue sin arreglar.

The apartment is freshly painted and ___, but the kitchen still needs repairs.)

4. Ayer estuvimos hablando con la empresa de mudanzas, ___ el traslado del sábado.

Yesterday we spoke with the moving company to ___ the Saturday move.)

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the infinitive, gerund or participle as indicated in the text in parentheses (keep the same meaning).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (infinitivo (norma/aviso)) En esta oficina la gente no fuma.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    No fumar en esta oficina.
    (No smoking in this office.)
  2. Hint Hint (infinitivo (después de otro verbo)) Él quiere que tú haces más deporte.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Él quiere hacer más deporte.
    (He wants you to do more sport.)
  3. Hint Hint (infinitivo (expresar duda)) No estoy seguro: mudamos ahora o esperamos al verano.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    No sé si mudarse ahora o esperar al verano.
    (I'm not sure whether to move now or wait until summer.)
  4. Hint Hint (gerundio (acción en progreso)) Ahora mismo preparo la presentación para el cliente.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Ahora mismo estoy preparando la presentación para el cliente.
    (I'm preparing the presentation for the client right now.)

Exercise 3: Grammar in action

Instruction: Talk about planning the move and describe the flat as you visit it.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
Dos amigos visitan un piso de segunda mano antes de decidir mudarse.
(Two friends view a second‑hand flat before deciding whether to move in.)
Discuss
  • ¿Qué preguntas le haríais al dueño antes de pagar el alquiler o la hipoteca? (What questions would you ask the owner before agreeing to pay the rent or the mortgage?)
  • Mirando el piso, ¿qué cambiaríais y qué dejaríais tal cual? ¿Por qué? (Looking at the flat, what would you change and what would you leave as it is? Why?)
Useful words and phrases
  • No fumar en el edificio. (No smoking in the building.)
  • Queremos irnos a vivir a un piso más luminoso. (We want to move to a brighter flat.)
  • Estamos haciendo la mudanza con una empresa de mudanzas. (We're hiring a moving company for the move.)
Use in conversation
  • infinitivo (infinitive)
  • gerundio (gerund)
  • participio (past participle)

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 05/03/2026 21:23