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Spanish (Spain) • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

gerund: changes (2)

💡 Grammar Rule

Stem-Changing and Irregular Gerunds (Present Participles)

In Spanish, the gerund (gerundio) is the equivalent of the English "-ing" form (e.g., sleeping, eating). While most verbs follow regular patterns by adding -ando or -iendo, -ir verbs that are stem-changing in the present tense undergo a specific change in the gerund form as well.

Note: Stem-changing verbs ending in -ar (like hablar) and -er (like entender) do not have stem changes in the gerund. This rule applies exclusively to -ir verbs.

1. The o → u Change

Verbs ending in -ir that have an o in the stem typically change that o to a u in the gerund.

  • Dormir (to sleep) → durmiendo (sleeping)
  • Morir (to die) → muriendo (dying)

2. The e → i Change

Many -ir verbs that have an e in the stem change it to an i. This applies to verbs that change e → ie or e → i in the present indicative.

  • Pedir (to ask for) → pidiendo (asking for)
  • Repetir (to repeat) → repitiendo (repeating)
  • Sentir (to feel) → sintiendo (feeling)
  • Venir (to come) → viniendo (coming)
  • Decir (to say) → diciendo (saying)

3. Connection to the Preterite Tense

A helpful trick to remember these forms is that the stem change in the gerund mirrors the stem change found in the third-person singular and plural of the preterite tense (Simple Past).

  • Dormir: Preterite (él durmió) → Gerund (durmiendo)
  • Pedir: Preterite (él pidió) → Gerund (pidiendo)

4. Irregular Gerund Forms

There are a few important irregular verbs that do not follow the standard patterns or have spelling changes to preserve pronunciation.

  • Ir (to go) → yendo (going)
    (Note: When the stem is a vowel alone, the 'i' of -iendo often becomes 'y'.)
  • Poder (to be able to) → pudiendo (being able to)
    (Note: Although 'poder' is an -er verb, it is a rare exception that changes o → u.)
  • Leer (to read) → leyendo (reading)
  • Traer (to bring) → trayendo (bringing)

5. Usage Examples

These gerunds are primarily used in progressive constructions, such as with the verb estar.

  • El niño se está durmiendo. (The boy is falling asleep.)
  • Estamos pidiendo la cuenta. (We are asking for the bill.)
  • Siguen repitiendo lo mismo. (They keep repeating the same thing.)
Why aren’t you sleeping yet?
¿Por qué no estás durmiendo todavía?
I’m not sleepy, I’m reading.
No tengo sueño, estoy leyendo.
The baby doesn’t want to sleep.
El bebé no quiere dormir.
Shh, be quiet, please.
Chist, guarda silencio, por favor.
Phew, I’m dying of heat here!
¡Uf, me estoy muriendo de calor aquí!
Yes, we need air conditioning.
Sí, necesitamos aire acondicionado.
Will the flowers die without water?
¿Las flores van a morir sin agua?
Of course, they need water to live.
Claro, necesitan agua para vivir.
What is the student repeating?
¿Qué está repitiendo el alumno?
He is repeating the difficult phrase.
Está repitiendo la frase difícil.
I don’t like repeating things twice.
No me gusta repetir las cosas dos veces.
Sorry, I was distracted.
Perdona, estaba distraído.
Your friends are coming down the street.
Tus amigos están viniendo por la calle.
Great, I’m going to open the door.
Genial, voy a abrir la puerta.
Are you going to come to the party?
¿Vas a venir a la fiesta?
I don’t know if I can go.
No sé si puedo ir.
Where are you going in such a hurry?
¿Adónde estás yendo con tanta prisa?
I’m going to the pharmacy.
Estoy yendo a la farmacia.
Tomorrow we have to go to the doctor.
Mañana tenemos que ir al médico.
Okay, I’ll make an appointment in the morning.
Vale, pido cita por la mañana.
I’m not being able to open this file.
No estoy pudiendo abrir este archivo.
Let me see if I can.
Déjame ver si yo puedo.
Are they going to be able to finish the job?
¿Ellos van a poder terminar el trabajo?
I think so, they are very fast.
Creo que sí, son muy rápidos.
What is that girl asking for?
¿Qué está pidiendo esa chica?
She is asking for a coffee with milk.
Está pidiendo un café con leche.
I’m going to ask for the check now.
Voy a pedir la cuenta ahora.
Wait, I want a dessert.
Espera, yo quiero un postre.
They are serving free tapas at that bar.
En ese bar están sirviendo tapas gratis.
How nice! Let’s go inside.
¡Qué bien! Vamos a entrar.
Can you serve the water, please?
¿Puedes servir el agua, por favor?
Yes, right away.
Sí, ahora mismo.
Marta is getting dressed very elegantly.
Marta se está vistiendo muy elegante.
Yes, she has an important dinner.
Sí, tiene una cena importante.
I don’t know what to wear today.
No sé qué vestir hoy.
Wear the red dress.
Viste el vestido rojo.
Are you telling me the truth?
¿Me estás diciendo la verdad?
I swear I am not lying.
Te juro que no estoy mintiendo.
Are you feeling dizzy?
¿Te estás sintiendo mareado?
Yes, I need to sit down.
Sí, necesito sentarme.
Why are you all laughing?
¿Por qué os estáis riendo vosotros?
We are laughing at a very good joke.
Nos estamos riendo de un chiste muy bueno.
The guests are saying goodbye now.
Los invitados se están despidiendo ya.
What a shame, the party was short.
Qué pena, la fiesta ha sido corta.

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