The gerund (-ando/-iendo), also called the present participle, is the equivalent of "ing" in English:
ex: caminando = walking
comiendo = eating
escribiendo = writing
To form the gerund/present participle, start with a verb in its infinitive form.
ENAMORAR > to fall in love
SORPRENDER > to surprise
CONSTRUIR > to construct/build
Take off the infinitive ending -AR, -ER, -IR and the STEM is remaining
ENAMOR AR
SORPREND ER
CONSTRU IR
To the remaining STEM, add -ando to -AR verbs and -iendo to -ER & -IR verbs.
ENAMOR ANDO
SORPREND IENDO
CONSTRU IENDO
*if you have formed a vowel i sandwich remember....
I don't know WHY it can't be an "I" but its got to be a "Y"...*
CONSTRUYENDO
By adding a conjugated form of ESTAR before the gerund/present participle you form the progressive.
The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE uses estar in the present tense:
Yo estoy cerrando las ventanas.
The PAST or IMPERFECT PROGRESSIVE uses estar in the imperfect tense:
Yo estaba cerrando las ventanas.
Please view the presentation below. Thank you to tpduggan@charter.net for providing this presentation.
1. Please click here and do the exercise to practice making the gerund.
2. Please click here and do the exercise practicing the present progressive.
3. Please click here and do the exercise practicing the present progressive.
4. Please click here and do the test on the present progressive. Continue to do it until you get 100%.