Spanish Gerund and Infinitive

Gerund and Infinitive

To form the gerund of most verbs, change the infinitive ending:
from -ar to -ando:
hablar => hablando from -er or -ir to -iendo:
comer => comiendo • vivir => viviendo
-ir stem-changing verbs are affected (see appendix A): pedir: pidiendo • dormir: durmiendo
-ir and -er verbs with stems ending in a vowel add -yendo:
traer: trayendo • oír: oyendo • creer: creyendo • destruir: destruyendo

A. The gerund (-ing form in English) does not change in gender or number. It is used:

A1. with the appropriate form of estar (or hay) to form the progressive tenses:
Lisa está estudiando. Estamos aprendiendo. No hay nadie hablando.
Note that in Spanish this construction cannot be used to express the future, as it frequently is in English; e.g. "I am leaving next week.” The simple present can be used in this sense: “Salgo la próxima semana”.

A2. with the verbs seguir and continuar to mean "go on doing something" (Unlike English, Spanish does not offer the option of using an infinitive after seguir or continuar):
Continuó diciendo. He went on saying. Siguió cantando. She continued to sing
Unlike English, Spanish does not offer the option of using an infinitive after seguir or continuar.

A3. in connection with a main verb, with no preposition, to express "by doing" or "while doing" something:
Vas a mejorar estudiando mucho. You're going to improve by studying a lot.
Me duermo leyendo esto. I fall asleep while reading this.

Spanish does not use the gerund as an adjective. Clauses or different expressions have to be used:
the answering machine la máquina contestadora (el contestador)
a never-ending process un proceso que nunca termina (interminable)
passengers carrying a big case... los pasajeros que llevan una maleta grande...
an intriguing beginning un comienzo intrigante
a disappointing ending un final decepcionante

B. The infinitive is the verb form that Spanish uses as a noun:
B1. as the subject of a sentence or the object of a verb:
Ver es creer. Seeing is believing.
No me gusta estudiar. I don't like studying.
Decidir casi siempre es difícil. Deciding is difficult most of the time.
Many verbs require no preposition before the infinitive: Quiero dormir. Some, however, require different prepositions: Sueño con viajar; Ayudan a mejorar; Tratamos de entender. (See Appendix D).

B2. immediately after any preposition:
Voy a salir después de comer. I am going to leave after eating.
Es su manera de hablar. It's his/her way of speaking.
Habla sin usar las manos. He speaks without using his hands.

Note that, unlike English, Spanish does not offer the option of using the gerund after prepositions or as the subject of a sentence. The infinitive must be used in such cases.

Two useful idiomatic constructions involving the inifinitive are:
• Al + infinitive indicates two actions occurring at the same time, as English at, on, in, upon doing:
Cuidado al cruzar Be careful in crossing.
Al entrar, cierra la puerta. Close the door upon entering.

• Acabar de + infinitive is used to express having just done something:
Acabo de resolver el problema. I have just solved the problem.
Acaban de salir. They have just left.