Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes
Learn how to form the Spanish gerund for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, including irregular forms like "yendo" and "leyendo." Practice with key verbs such as crear (creando), esperar (esperando), and vivir (viviendo).
- Verbs ending in -ar form the gerund with the stem + "-ando", as in trabajar -> trabajando.
- Verbs ending in -er/-ir form the gerund with the stem + "-iendo", as in cumplir -> cumpliendo.
- It can also have an imperfective value, that is, it can be used to describe something in the past.
| Tipo (Type) | Verbo (Verb) | Gerundio (Gerund) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular -ar | Crear | Creando | Estaban creando una familia con mucho amor. (They were creating a family with a lot of love.) |
| Regular -er | Esperar | Esperando | Estábamos esperando al bebé en casa. (We were waiting for the baby at home.) |
| Regular -ir | Vivir | Viviendo | Estaban viviendo juntos desde hace un año. (They had been living together for a year.) |
| Irregular | Decir | Diciendo | Estábamos diciendo la idea claramente. (We were clearly stating the idea.) |
| Irregular | Leer | Leyendo | Estuviste leyendo el contrato. (You were reading the contract.) |
| Irregular | Ir | Yendo | Estaba yendo a la gestoría. (I was going to the management office.) |
| Irregular | Oír | Oyendo | Estaba oyendo un anuncio. (I was hearing an advertisement.) |
| Irregular | Venir | Viniendo | Mi socio estaba viniendo a la reunión. (My partner was coming to the meeting.) |
| Irregular | Dormir | Durmiendo | Estaba durmiendo después de trabajar. (I was sleeping after working.) |
| Irregular | Caber | Cabiendo | La pareja estaba cabiendo justo en el coche. (The couple was fitting just right in the car.) |
Exceptions!
- Some verbs have an irregular form: ir → yendo, leer → leyendo.
Exercise 1: El gerundio, las tres conjugaciones
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Estaban cabiendo, Estaba deseando, Estaba casándome, Estaba muriendo, Estaban divorciándose, Estaban formando, Estaba creando, Estaba viviendo
1.
Crear:
... un deseo para el futuro.
(I was creating a wish for the future.)
2.
Caber:
... justo en el coche con la mascota.
(They were just fitting in the car with the pet.)
3.
Morir:
... de risa con el adolescente.
(I was dying of laughter with the teenager.)
4.
Vivir:
... con su pareja en el centro.
(He was living with his partner in the city centre.)
5.
Casarse:
... cuando llegó el mensaje.
(I was marrying when the message arrived.)
6.
Desear:
... tener un hijo pronto.
(I was looking forward to having a child soon.)
7.
Divorciarse:
... después de muchos años.
(They were divorcing after many years.)
8.
Formar:
... una familia muy unida.
(They were forming a very close family.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses the gerund in each sentence. Observe common mistakes and learn to avoid them.
1.
Error: incorrect ending of the gerund in -ar; it must be '-ando', not '-anda'.
Error: the verb 'trabajo' is in present tense, it is not gerund; 'trabajando' must be used.
2.
Error: the form 'vivieno' is incorrect; the correct ending of the gerund for -ir is '-iendo'.
Error: 'vivido' is past participle, not gerund; 'viviendo' must be used.
3.
Spelling error in the formation of the gerund of the verb leer; the correct form is 'leyendo', not 'leiendo'.
Error: after 'we are' a gerund must be used, not an infinitive; that's why 'leyendo' is correct.
4.
Error: after 'estar' the gerund must be used and not the infinitive, that's why 'yendo' is correct.
Error: 'ido' is past participle, not gerund; the correct gerund is 'yendo'.
