The gerund or present participle is one of the non-personal forms of a verb. Its main function is to form the perfect tenses together with the auxiliary verb "estar" (to be, as an auxiliary verb).
1st conjugation -AR: participle ends in -ando
2nd conjugation -ER: participle ends in -iendo
3rd conjugation -IR: participle ends in -iendo
1.- Verb: it indicates actions that are still happening.
Aún estamos comprando en el supermerado.
We are still buying at the supermarket.
2.- Adverb: the gerund has the main functions of an adverb such as modal, conditional, time object.
Vino andando muy despacio.
He came walking really slowly.
Marisa, viendo lo que ocurría, se marchó.
Marisa, seeing what was happening, left.
3.- Adjective: a gerund can function as an adjective only in the following situations:
3.A. - with verbs that express perception
Veo a María lavando su ropa.
I see Maria washing her clothes.
3.B. - with the impersonal form of the verb haber
Había un hombre cantando en la playa.
There was a man singing on the beach.
3.C. - some adverbs such as "hirviendo", "ardiendo", or "colgando" are always adjectives.
Se le cayó agua hirviendo mientras cocinaba pasta.
He dropped boiling water while he was cooking pasta.
Rosa está lavándose la cabeza.
Rosa is washing her hair.
The following perífrasis (2-6) express actions that have a lasting effect in time.
2. Ir + gerundio
Voy caminando por la calle mayor. Llegaré ahí en unos minutos.
I'm walking on the main street. I'll be there in a few minutes.
3. Andar + gerundio
Adela anda diciendo que le has robado su móvil.
Adela keeps saying that you stole her cell phone.
4. Continuar + gerundio
Jorge continúa pensando que tu idea no es apropiada para la reunión.
Jorge still thinks that your idea is not appropriate to bring up at the meeting.
5. Seguir + gerundio
Javier sigue leyendo el mismo libro desde hace cuatro meses.
Javier has been reading the same book for the last four months.
6. Llevar + gerundio
Los niños llevan jugando a la consola todo el día.
The kids have been playing videogames all day.
7. Salir + gerundio: Expresses the begining of an action.
Amanda salió diciendo que su amigo tenía mucho dinero cuando era mentira.
Amanda said that her friend had a lot of money when it wasn't true.
1st conjugation -AR: participle ends in -ando
2nd conjugation -ER: participle ends in -iendo
3rd conjugation -IR: participle ends in -iendo
Uses of the Gerund:
A gerund can have one of the following values:1.- Verb: it indicates actions that are still happening.
Aún estamos comprando en el supermerado.
We are still buying at the supermarket.
2.- Adverb: the gerund has the main functions of an adverb such as modal, conditional, time object.
Vino andando muy despacio.
He came walking really slowly.
Marisa, viendo lo que ocurría, se marchó.
Marisa, seeing what was happening, left.
3.- Adjective: a gerund can function as an adjective only in the following situations:
3.A. - with verbs that express perception
Veo a María lavando su ropa.
I see Maria washing her clothes.
3.B. - with the impersonal form of the verb haber
Había un hombre cantando en la playa.
There was a man singing on the beach.
3.C. - some adverbs such as "hirviendo", "ardiendo", or "colgando" are always adjectives.
Se le cayó agua hirviendo mientras cocinaba pasta.
He dropped boiling water while he was cooking pasta.
Gerund Periphrases:
1. Estar + gerundio: Expresses an action that lasts in time.Rosa está lavándose la cabeza.
Rosa is washing her hair.
The following perífrasis (2-6) express actions that have a lasting effect in time.
2. Ir + gerundio
Voy caminando por la calle mayor. Llegaré ahí en unos minutos.
I'm walking on the main street. I'll be there in a few minutes.
3. Andar + gerundio
Adela anda diciendo que le has robado su móvil.
Adela keeps saying that you stole her cell phone.
4. Continuar + gerundio
Jorge continúa pensando que tu idea no es apropiada para la reunión.
Jorge still thinks that your idea is not appropriate to bring up at the meeting.
5. Seguir + gerundio
Javier sigue leyendo el mismo libro desde hace cuatro meses.
Javier has been reading the same book for the last four months.
6. Llevar + gerundio
Los niños llevan jugando a la consola todo el día.
The kids have been playing videogames all day.
7. Salir + gerundio: Expresses the begining of an action.
Amanda salió diciendo que su amigo tenía mucho dinero cuando era mentira.
Amanda said that her friend had a lot of money when it wasn't true.