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Master the use of 'llevar' and 'seguir' + gerundio to express ongoing actions in Spanish, focusing on verbs like 'llevo pensando' (I have been thinking) and 'sigues viviendo' (you keep living). Learn how to form and use gerunds with -ando and -iendo endings effectively.
  1. We use 'llevar' to indicate the duration of an action.
  2. We use seguir to show actions that continue
  3. Formation of the gerund: verbs that end in -ar --> ando and verbs that end in -er/-ir --> iendo
Persona (Person)Verbo auxiliar (Auxiliary verb)Ejemplo (Example)
Yo (I)Llevo / SigoLlevo pensando en mi jubilación desde enero. (I have been thinking about my retirement since January.)
Tú (You)Llevas / SiguesSigues viviendo con tranquilidad desde que te jubilaste. (You continue living peacefully since you retired.)
Él/Ella (He/She)Lleva / SigueÉlla sigue aprovechando el tiempo libre al máximo. (She continues making the most of her free time.)
Nosotros/as (We)Llevamos / SeguimosLlevamos cuidando de nuestra salud muchos años. (We have been taking care of our health for many years.)
Vosotros/as (You)Lleváis / SeguísSeguís organizando actividades para jubilados. (You keep organising activities for retirees.)
Ellos/as (They)Llevan / SiguenLlevan planeando viajes desde el retiro. (They have been planning trips since retirement.)

Exceptions!

  1. A word can be added between the verb and the gerund, such as a time adverb or a noun. For example: Llevo meses siendo retirado.

Exercise 1: Los verbos "Llevar/Seguir" + Gerundio

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Llevo, lleváis disfrutando, siguen trabajando, llevo trabajando, seguimos buscando, Sigo haciendo, soñando, llevo corriendo

1. Llevar + corriendo:
Yo ... 5 kilómetros todos los días.
(Yo llevo corriendo 5 kilómetros todos los días.)
2. Llevar + disfrutando:
Vosotros ... de vuestra jubilación.
(Vosotros lleváis disfrutando de vuestra jubilación.)
3. Llevar + soñar:
... años ... con tener más tiempo libre.
(Llevo años soñando con tener más tiempo libre.)
4. Llevar + disfrutando:
Vosotros ... de las vacaciones todo el mes.
(Vosotros lleváis disfrutando de las vacaciones todo el mes.)
5. Llevar + trabajando:
Yo ... en esta empresa por 30 años.
(Yo llevo trabajando en esta empresa por 30 años.)
6. Seguir + buscando:
Nosotros ... una casa para mudarnos.
(Nosotros seguimos buscando una casa para mudarnos.)
7. Seguir + trabajando:
Ellos ... en su proyecto de vacaciones.
(Ellos siguen trabajando en su proyecto de vacaciones.)
8. Seguir + hacer (yo):
Nada ha cambiado. ... lo mismo.
(Nada ha cambiado. Sigo haciendo lo mismo.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses the verbs 'llevar' or 'seguir' + gerund to express actions that continue over time.

1.
Error: 'para' should not be used between 'seguir' and the gerund; 'aprendiendo' must be used without 'para'.
Error in verb formation: after 'llevar' there must be a gerund, not an infinitive.
2.
Error: 'para' is not used between 'llevar' and the gerund.
Error: after 'seguir' the gerund ('disfrutando') must be used, not the participle ('disfrutado').
3.
Error: after 'llevar' the gerund must be used, not the infinitive.
Error: 'para' should not be used between 'seguir' and the gerund.
4.
Error: gerund ('organizando') must be used, not participle ('organizado').
Error: no preposition is used between 'seguir' and the gerund.

Understanding the verbs "Llevar" and "Seguir" with the Gerund in Spanish

This lesson focuses on using the Spanish verbs llevar and seguir combined with the gerund (present participle) to express ongoing actions or the duration of actions over time. These constructions are essential for conveying continuous or progressive activities, a common and practical way to speak about habits, situations, and ongoing states in Spanish.

Key Uses of "Llevar" + Gerund

"Llevar" + gerund is used to indicate the duration of an action—that is, how long something has been happening. It emphasizes the time span during which the action is taking place.

  • Example: Llevo pensando en mi jubilación desde enero. (I have been thinking about my retirement since January.)
  • Example: Llevamos cuidando de nuestra salud muchos años. (We have been taking care of our health for many years.)

Key Uses of "Seguir" + Gerund

"Seguir" + gerund emphasizes that an action continues or persists. It conveys the idea that something is still happening, often highlighting ongoing activity or behavior.

  • Example: Sigues viviendo con tranquilidad desde que te jubilaste. (You continue living peacefully since you retired.)
  • Example: Ella sigue aprovechando el tiempo libre al máximo. (She continues making the most of her free time.)

How to Form the Gerund in Spanish

The gerund is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem:

  • For verbs ending in -ar, add -ando (e.g., hablar → hablando).
  • For verbs ending in -er or -ir, add -iendo (e.g., comer → comiendo, vivir → viviendo).

It's possible to insert words such as time adverbs or nouns between the auxiliary verb and the gerund to give more detail:

  • Example: Llevo meses siendo retirado. (I have been retired for months.)

Personal Conjugation of "Llevar" and "Seguir" + Gerund

The auxiliary verbs llevar and seguir are conjugated according to the subject, as shown below, followed by the gerund:

PersonAuxiliary VerbExample
YoLlevo / SigoLlevo pensando en mi jubilación desde enero.
TúLlevas / SiguesSigues viviendo con tranquilidad desde que te jubilaste.
Él/EllaLleva / SigueÉlla sigue aprovechando el tiempo libre al máximo.
Nosotros/asLlevamos / SeguimosLlevamos cuidando de nuestra salud muchos años.
Vosotros/asLleváis / SeguísSeguís organizando actividades para jubilados.
Ellos/asLlevan / SiguenLlevan planeando viajes desde el retiro.

Differences from English and Useful Expressions

In English, continuous actions are typically formed with to be + verb ending in -ing (e.g., "I am studying"). In Spanish, marking the length or continuity of an action uses llevar or seguir + gerund, which is not a direct translation of English continuous tenses but a special construction to express duration or ongoing actions.

Useful phrases:

  • Llevar + gerundio = "to have been (doing something) for [time]." Example: Llevo estudiando español dos años. (I have been studying Spanish for two years.)
  • Seguir + gerundio = "to keep on / continue (doing something)." Example: Sigo aprendiendo nuevas palabras. (I keep learning new words.)

Note: Avoid inserting words like "para" between llevar or seguir and the gerund; it should be a direct combination or with time expressions in between.

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