Spanish Gerund: -ando, -iendo and Progressive Forms
Learn how the Spanish gerund works with -ando, -iendo, irregular forms and progressive structures — from hablando and comiendo to estoy aprendiendo español.
Why the Spanish gerund matters
The Spanish gerund helps you talk about actions in progress, repeated movement and ongoing processes. It is especially important with estar, but it also appears with verbs such as seguir, continuar, ir, venir and andar. The main challenge for English speakers is that Spanish does not use the gerund in every place where English uses “-ing”.
How to use this page
Use this page after the general non-finite forms overview. First learn the endings, then the progressive construction with estar, then the important limits compared with English.
Learn -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs.
Combine estar + gerund to describe an action in progress: estoy leyendo, estamos trabajando.
English “-ing” often becomes a Spanish infinitive: Learning Spanish is useful → Aprender español es útil.
The core system: form, estar and meaning
Regular form
Most Spanish gerunds use -ando or -iendo.
hablar → hablando · comer → comiendo · vivir → viviendo
With estar
With estar, the gerund describes an action in progress.
Estoy leyendo. · Estamos aprendiendo español.
Not every English -ing
Spanish often uses the infinitive where English uses “-ing” as a noun.
Aprender español es útil.
How to form the Spanish gerund
Regular Spanish gerunds are formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding -ando or -iendo. The gerund itself does not change for person, gender or number.
| Verb group | Ending | Infinitive | Gerund | Example with estar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -ar verbs | -ando | hablar | hablando | Estoy hablando con Ana. |
| -er verbs | -iendo | comer | comiendo | Estamos comiendo tarde. |
| -ir verbs | -iendo | vivir | viviendo | Están viviendo en Madrid. |
Irregular and spelling-change gerunds in Spanish
Some Spanish gerunds change their stem or spelling. These forms are common and should be learned as practical patterns, not as isolated exceptions.
| Infinitive | Gerund | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ir | yendo | highly irregular | Estoy yendo al centro. |
| decir | diciendo | e → i | Está diciendo la verdad. |
| pedir | pidiendo | e → i | Estamos pidiendo ayuda. |
| servir | sirviendo | e → i | El camarero está sirviendo la comida. |
| dormir | durmiendo | o → u | El niño está durmiendo. |
| morir | muriendo | o → u | La planta se está muriendo. |
| leer | leyendo | i → y | Estoy leyendo un libro. |
| oír | oyendo | i → y | Estoy oyendo música. |
| traer | trayendo | i → y | Está trayendo los documentos. |
| caer | cayendo | i → y | Está cayendo nieve. |
Gerund with estar: progressive meaning
The most common use of the Spanish gerund is with estar. This structure describes an action that is happening at a specific moment or around a specific period.
Estoy estudiando español.
Estamos preparando la clase.
Los estudiantes están escuchando el audio.
¿Qué estás haciendo?
The verb estar changes according to the subject, but the gerund does not change: estoy hablando, estás hablando, estamos hablando, están hablando.
Other verbs used with the Spanish gerund
The gerund can also appear with verbs that express continuation, gradual development or repeated movement. These structures often describe how an action continues, develops or unfolds.
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| seguir | to keep doing something | Sigue estudiando español. |
| continuar | to continue doing something | Continúan trabajando juntos. |
| ir | gradual development | Voy entendiendo mejor. |
| venir | ongoing development up to now | Viene creciendo desde hace años. |
| andar | to go around doing something | Anda diciendo tonterías. |
Spanish gerund vs English “-ing”
English uses “-ing” in many different ways. Spanish does not copy all of them with the gerund. When “-ing” works like a noun in English, Spanish usually uses the infinitive.
Learning Spanish is useful. → Aprender español es útil.
I like reading. → Me gusta leer.
After eating, we left. → Después de comer, salimos.
Use the Spanish gerund mainly for ongoing action or for specific verb combinations such as estar aprendiendo, seguir practicando and ir mejorando.
When to use the Spanish gerund
With estar
Use estar + gerund for an action happening now or around now.
Estoy leyendo. · Estamos aprendiendo.
With seguir or continuar
Use the gerund to show that an action continues.
Sigue practicando. · Continúa trabajando.
With ir or venir
Use the gerund to show gradual change or development.
Voy aprendiendo. · Viene creciendo.
Related grammar topics
Non-finite Forms
Understand infinitives, gerunds and participles as verb forms without person or tense on their own.
Spanish Infinitive
Review why Spanish often uses the infinitive where English uses “-ing” as a noun.
Past Participle
Compare hablando and hablado, comiendo and comido.
Ser and Estar
Understand why progressive forms use estar: estoy estudiando.
Present Tense
Compare simple present meaning with progressive meaning: estudio vs estoy estudiando.
Adverbs of Manner
Compare gerund structures with adverbs that describe how an action is done.
Typical mistakes with the Spanish gerund
- Using the gerund as a noun: say Aprender español es útil, not Aprendiendo español es útil.
- Copying English after prepositions: say después de comer, not después de comiendo.
- Forgetting irregular forms: say yendo, diciendo, durmiendo, leyendo.
- Changing the gerund for the subject: the gerund does not agree: estoy hablando, estamos hablando.
- Overusing estar + gerund: Spanish often uses the simple present where English uses a progressive form.
Where to go next
After the Spanish gerund, continue with infinitives, past participles and the contrast between simple and progressive meaning.
Want personal guidance?
If Spanish gerund forms feel confusing, individual guidance can help you separate -ando, -iendo, progressive meaning, infinitive use and English “-ing” translations in real sentences.
FAQ: Spanish gerund
What is the Spanish gerund?
The Spanish gerund is a non-finite verb form usually ending in -ando or -iendo. It is often used with estar to describe an action in progress.
How do you form the Spanish gerund?
Regular Spanish gerunds use -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs: hablando, comiendo, viviendo.
How do you use estar with the gerund?
Use a form of estar plus the gerund to describe an ongoing action: estoy estudiando, estamos aprendiendo, están trabajando.
Is the Spanish gerund the same as English “-ing”?
No. English “-ing” has several uses. Spanish often uses the infinitive where English uses “-ing” as a noun: Aprender español es útil.
What are common irregular Spanish gerunds?
Common irregular or spelling-change gerunds include yendo, diciendo, pidiendo, durmiendo, leyendo, oyendo and trayendo.
Does the Spanish gerund change for gender or number?
No. The Spanish gerund does not agree with the subject. For example: estoy hablando, estamos hablando, ellos están hablando.
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