Verbal Periphrasis with the Gerund

Las Perífrasis Verbales con gerundio are the combination of two verbs in which the first verb is the one that is conjugated in any tense and any form or person and the second verb stays in the gerund form. There's no preposition linking both verbs.

Here is a list of a few common perífrasis verbales followed by a gerund and its uses:

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 beginning 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.