Los Gerundios Gerunds and the Present Progressive Tense

Los GerundiosLos Gerundios

Gerunds and the Gerunds and the

Present Progressive TensePresent Progressive Tense

The Gerund form of a verb is not The Gerund form of a verb is not really a conjugation at all. There is really a conjugation at all. There is not a different form for each person not a different form for each person or point of view. In fact, there is only or point of view. In fact, there is only one gerund of each verb, just like one gerund of each verb, just like there is in English.there is in English.

In English, we use the suffix “-ing” to In English, we use the suffix “-ing” to indicate that an action is taking place indicate that an action is taking place now.now.

Verbs ending in “-ing” are called Verbs ending in “-ing” are called gerunds.gerunds.

Gerundios … “-ing” verbsGerundios … “-ing” verbs

Running

Listening

Talking

Playing

Laughing

Crying

The Progressive TenseThe Progressive Tense

So, you will always use Estar with So, you will always use Estar with Gerunds. The construction looks like Gerunds. The construction looks like this:this:

Subj. + Subj. + [Estar + Conj.] + [Verb + [Estar + Conj.] + [Verb + Gerund]Gerund]

I I am am talking.talking.

Yo Yo estoy estoy hablando.hablando.

Forming the Gerund in Spanish is Forming the Gerund in Spanish is almost as easy as it is in English.almost as easy as it is in English.

For –AR verbs such as hablFor –AR verbs such as habl

Drop off the –ar endingDrop off the –ar ending

And add And add -ando-ando


ar

Forming the Gerund in Spanish is Forming the Gerund in Spanish is almost as easy as it is in English.almost as easy as it is in English.

For –AR verbs such as hablFor –AR verbs such as habl

Drop off the –ar endingDrop off the –ar ending

And add And add -ando-ando


ando

So the gerundio of So the gerundio of TomarTomar would be would be

CaminarCaminar would be would be

BailarBailar would be would be

And And CantarCantar would be would be

Tomando

Caminando

Bailando

Cantando

For –ER and -IR verbs For –ER and -IR verbs

such as com and vivsuch as com and viv

Drop off the –er or -ir endingDrop off the –er or -ir ending

And add And add -iendo-iendo


er ir

BeberBeber would be would be

EscribirEscribir would be would be

And And AsistirAsistir would be would be

Bebiendo

Escribiendo

Asistiendo


Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper estestá corriendoá corriendo

Now let’s look at some examples of Now let’s look at some examples of these verbs actually being used in these verbs actually being used in real Spanish.real Spanish.

I am talking.I am talking. They are talking.They are talking. We were talking.We were talking. Charlie is talking.Charlie is talking.

¡Ojo! The verb ¡Ojo! The verb talkingtalking never changes! never changes! What are the conjugated verbs in What are the conjugated verbs in these sentences? these sentences?


That’s right… the verb “to be”. That’s right… the verb “to be”. Remember that there are 2 verbs Remember that there are 2 verbs

with mean “to be” in Spanish. When with mean “to be” in Spanish. When do you use each one?do you use each one?

Ser vs EstarSer vs Estar

EstarEstar SerSer

ConditionCondition CharacteristicCharacteristic

LocationLocation Origin/nationality/Origin/nationality/

Progressive Progressive religion/professionreligion/profession

Time/DateTime/Date

(Basically…everything else.)(Basically…everything else.)


This is the Progressive Tense! This is the Progressive Tense! – I am talking.I am talking.– She is running.She is running.– We are sitting.We are sitting.– It is raining.It is raining.– It is snowing.It is snowing.

All of these actions are going on right now… so All of these actions are going on right now… so we refer to them as Progressive: We we refer to them as Progressive: We emphasize the fact that they are progressing emphasize the fact that they are progressing or going on or going on right now.right now.

Yo estoy esquiando.Yo estoy esquiando.

I am skiing.I am skiing.

Carlos está bebiendo jugo.Carlos está bebiendo jugo.

Carlos is drinking juice.Carlos is drinking juice.

Nosotros estamos viviendo en Florida Nosotros estamos viviendo en Florida ahora.ahora.

We are living in Florida now.We are living in Florida now.

¿Cómo se dice…? ¿Cómo se dice…?

Otros ejemplos in EspaOtros ejemplos in Español.ñol.

1. Andrés is playing the guitar.1. Andrés is playing the guitar.

Andrés está tocando la guitarra.Andrés está tocando la guitarra.

2. Andrés and I are studying Spanish.2. Andrés and I are studying Spanish.

Andrés y yo estamos estudiando español.Andrés y yo estamos estudiando español.

3. Andrea and María are playing tenis.3. Andrea and María are playing tenis.

Andrea y María están jugando al tenis.Andrea y María están jugando al tenis.

4. Are you writing a letter?4. Are you writing a letter?

¿Estás escribiendo una carta?¿Estás escribiendo una carta?

5. My friends are running along the beach.5. My friends are running along the beach.

Mis amigos están corriendo por la playa.Mis amigos están corriendo por la playa.

6. It is raining.6. It is raining.Está lloviendo.Está lloviendo.

7. It is snowing.7. It is snowing.Está nevando.Está nevando.

8. I am attending a Spanish class.8. I am attending a Spanish class.Yo estoy asistiendo una clase de Yo estoy asistiendo una clase de español.español.

9. Are you understanding? (entender/ 9. Are you understanding? (entender/ comprender)comprender)¿Estás entendiendo?¿Estás entendiendo?¿Estás comprendiendo?¿Estás comprendiendo?


Remember that the Progressive Tense is Remember that the Progressive Tense is used to EMPHASIZE the fact that the used to EMPHASIZE the fact that the action is happening at this moment. action is happening at this moment.

In Spanish, you can still use the regular In Spanish, you can still use the regular present tense to say that something present tense to say that something happens or is happening now. happens or is happening now.

Remember “llueve” and “está lloviendo”? Remember “llueve” and “está lloviendo”? – Both mean “It is raining”, but “está lloviendo” Both mean “It is raining”, but “está lloviendo”

simply emphasizes the fact that it is taking simply emphasizes the fact that it is taking place place right nowright now. .


¿Qué significa…?¿Qué significa…?

Yo hablo.Yo hablo.I talk. I talk. I am talking.I am talking.

Yo estoy hablando.Yo estoy hablando.I am talking (right now).I am talking (right now).

Gerundios – Stem Changers Gerundios – Stem Changers

A few gerunds have a stem change. A few gerunds have a stem change.

**To form the present participle of -ir **To form the present participle of -ir stem changing verbs, change stem changing verbs, change o o u u and eand e i i

in the stem, and then add -iendo to the in the stem, and then add -iendo to the stem of the verb. stem of the verb.

pedir epedir e ii dormir o dormir o uu

ppiidiendodiendo dduurmiendormiendo

Otros irregularesOtros irregulares

servir: servir: sirviendosirviendopedir: pedir: pidiendopidiendodecir: decir: diciendodiciendo

dormir: dormir: durmiendodurmiendomorir: morir: muriendomuriendopoder: poder: pudiendopudiendo

Sometimes when forming the present Sometimes when forming the present participle it is necessary to change the participle it is necessary to change the spelling of a word so that it agrees with spelling of a word so that it agrees with the way it is pronounced. Here are some the way it is pronounced. Here are some common examples:common examples:

caer: caer: cayendocayendocreer: creer: creyendocreyendohuir: huir: huyendo (to flee)huyendo (to flee)ir: ir: yendoyendoinfluir: influir: influyendoinfluyendooír: oír: oyendooyendotraer: traer: trayendotrayendoleer: leer: leyendoleyendoseguir: seguir: siguiendosiguiendo

GerundiosGerundios

If a verb ends in (se), form the If a verb ends in (se), form the gerund regularly, then put the –se gerund regularly, then put the –se back on the end and put an accent back on the end and put an accent over the over the

––ándo or –iéndo.ándo or –iéndo.

GerundiosGerundios

maquillar(se)maquillar(se)maquillándosemaquillándose

cepillar(se)cepillar(se)cepillándosecepillándose

lavar(se)lavar(se)lavándoselavándose

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Los Gerundios Gerunds and the Present Progressive Tense