Unit 4.2
Irregularities of the Gerund
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Introduction
The gerund [gerundio] is one of the non-personal forms of the verb, which has neither gender nor number. It is used to express simultaneity or anteriority.
There are some spelling irregularities [irregularidades] of the gerund.
Form
There are irregularities in the spelling of the gerund in frequently used verbs, such as:
ir ⇒ yendo, leer ⇒ leyendo, oír ⇒ oyendo.
The most common procedures for forming irregular gerunds are as follows:
| Raíz | Terminación | Ejemplo |
| terminada en vocal, sin cambios | -yendo | -yendo |
| terminada en vocal y que la pierde | -iendo | reír – riendo |
| cambia -e por -i | -iendo | seguir – siguiendo |
| terminada en -ñ que cambia -e por -i | -endo | teñir – tiñendo |
| cambia -o por -u | -iendo | poder – pudiendo |
| — | -yendo | ir – yendo |
Other verbs that change -e to –i and add -iendo are: corregir, decir, mentir, pedir, preferir, sentir, venir, vestir…
Other verbs that change -o to -u and add -iendo are: dormir, morir…
Other verbs that add -yendo are: creer, leer, oír, traer… and all verbs ending in -uir.
Example
Finished in vowel, without change:
- ¿Tú te estás creyendo lo que dice ese señor que lleva el pelo rizado?
- Sí que están construyendo el puente, lo sé de primera mano.
Ended in a vowel, it loses it:
- Me estoy riendo por no llorar, porque me duele mucho la muela;
- Friendo las patatas caen mejor en el estómago que cocinándolas.
Change -e to -i:
- Siguiendo por este camino llegaremos a oír el mar;
- Estamos consiguiendo grandes avances para mitigar el dolor de garganta.
Ending in -ñ, change -e to -i:
- Te llamo luego, que me estoy lavando y tiñendo el pelo;
- No estoy estudiándome todo, me estoy ciñendo a mirar lo importante.
Change -o to -u:
- Pudiendo ver la película, ¿para qué voy a leer el libro?
- Me estoy muriendo de frío, vamos adentro.
Use
The gerund is used to:
- talk about the action that is taking place;
- express action simultaneous with or before that of the main verb;
- express that the action is not finished and is continuing (imperfective and progressive value);
- to indicate how the action is carried out (functions as an adverb of manner);
- describe an action in progress at the moment of speaking (in the periphrasis estar + gerund).
Summary
The gerund is one of the non-personal forms of the verb, which has neither forms gender nor number. It is used to express simultaneity or anteriority. The gerund of some verbs has spelling irregularities.
For example:
— «Están construyendo una nueva casa junto a la mía.» =Ending in a vowel, unchanged;
— «Mi lavadora está tiñendo toda mi ropa.» = Ending in a vowel, loses it;
— «Nunca te diré lo que estoy sintiendo.» = Change -e to -i;
— «Esa pareja está riñendo todo el rato.» = Ending in -ñ, change -e to -i;
— «No hagas ruido que mi hijo está durmiendo.” = Change -o to -u.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on the {Example} sections, which shows you the usage in context.
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