Learn how to form and use the gerundio in Spanish with regular verbs like crear (creando), esperar (esperando), vivir (viviendo), and irregular verbs such as decir (diciendo) and leer (leyendo). This lesson covers all three conjugations and highlights the gerundio's role in expressing ongoing actions.
- 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 uses the gerund properly in each sentence. Observe common mistakes and learn how to avoid them.
1.
Error: incorrect gerund ending for -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 gerund ending for -ir is '-iendo'.
Error: 'vivido' is a past participle, not a gerund; 'viviendo' must be used.
3.
Spelling error in forming the gerund of the verb leer; the correct form is 'leyendo', not 'leiendo'.
Error: after 'we are' gerund must be used, not infinitive; that is why 'leyendo' is correct.
4.
Error: after 'estar' gerund must be used and not infinitive, so 'yendo' is correct.
Error: 'ido' is a past participle, not a gerund; the correct gerund is 'yendo'.
