The gerund in Spanish : complete course

What Is the Gerund in Spanish?

The gerund in Spanish (el gerundio) is a non-personal verb form. This means it does not change according to the subject — it stays the same for everyone. It is mainly used to describe an action that is in progress or happening at the same time as another action.

Think of it like the ‘-ing’ form in English: ‘eating’, ‘speaking’, ‘running’. In Spanish, it works in a similar way, but with its own rules and uses.

Simple Examples to Get Started

• Estoy comiendo. — I am eating.
• Ella está hablando por teléfono. — She is talking on the phone.
• Estamos aprendiendo español. — We are learning Spanish.

As you can see, the gerund in Spanish often appears after the verb estar (to be) to describe what someone is doing right now.

The Key Elements of the Gerund in Spanish

Let us look at the main building blocks of this verb form.

How to Form the Gerund

Forming the gerund in Spanish is quite simple. You take the infinitive of the verb and replace the ending with -ando or -iendo.

The rule is very regular for most verbs. Once you know it, you can apply it to hundreds of verbs right away.

Irregular Gerunds

Some verbs have irregular gerund forms. These are mostly stem-changing verbs and a few special cases.

• dormir (to sleep) → durmiendo
• pedir (to ask for) → pidiendo
• leer (to read) → leyendo
• ir (to go) → yendo
• poder (to be able to) → pudiendo

Do not worry about memorising all of them at once. You will learn them naturally as you practise.

Main Uses of the Gerund

The gerund in Spanish is used in several situations:

• With ‘estar’ to describe an action in progress: Estoy trabajando. (I am working.)
• To explain how something is done: Aprendí español escuchando música. (I learned Spanish by listening to music.)
• To describe two simultaneous actions: Llegó corriendo. (He arrived running.)

Why the Gerund in Spanish Matters

Understanding the gerund helps you describe what is happening right now. It is essential for everyday conversations. Imagine you want to say ‘I am studying’ or ‘She is cooking dinner’ — you need the gerund for that.

It also makes your Spanish sound more natural and fluent. Instead of using simple present tense for everything, the gerund lets you express ongoing actions with more precision.

In short, it is one of the most common and useful structures in spoken and written Spanish.

Comparison with Other Languages

If you already speak English or French, this comparison might help you understand the Spanish gerund faster.

In English, the ‘-ing’ form is very close to the Spanish gerund when used with ‘to be’. In French, the equivalent is the present participle with ‘-ant’, but it is used less frequently in everyday speech. Spanish uses the gerund more often in conversation, especially with estar.

One important difference: in Spanish, the gerund is never used as a noun. In English, you can say ‘Eating is fun.’ In Spanish, you would use the infinitive instead: Comer es divertido.

A Complete Example in Context

Here is a short paragraph using the gerund in different ways:

María está estudiando en su habitación. Está escuchando música y tomando notas al mismo tiempo. Aprendió a concentrarse mejor dejando el teléfono lejos. Llegó a casa corriendo porque quería empezar cuanto antes.

Translation: Maria is studying in her room. She is listening to music and taking notes at the same time. She learned to concentrate better by leaving her phone far away. She arrived home running because she wanted to start as soon as possible.

Notice how each use of the gerund adds detail and makes the story more vivid and natural.

Key Points to Remember

• The gerund in Spanish is formed by adding -ando (for -ar verbs) or -iendo (for -er and -ir verbs) to the verb stem.
• It is most commonly used with the verb estar to describe actions in progress.
• Some verbs have irregular gerund forms — learn them gradually.
• The gerund can also describe how or when an action happens.
• Unlike English, the Spanish gerund cannot be used as a noun — use the infinitive instead.

The gerund is a great tool to make your Spanish sound more natural. Start by using it with estar, and then explore its other uses as you grow more confident.

Sources

• Real Academia Española (RAE) — Nueva gramática de la lengua española, 2009.
• Marta Baralo — La adquisición del español como lengua extranjera, Arco Libros, 1999.
• John Butt & Carmen Benjamin — A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish, Hodder Education, 2011.