Gerund

Question 1

Estoy estudiando español desde hace dos años.

Answer 1

ESTAR + GERUNDIO = present progressive. The action is in progress right now. ‘Estoy estudiando’ = I am studying. The most basic gerund use — equivalent to English -ing form with ‘to be’.

Question 2

Estaba lloviendo cuando llegué.

Answer 2

ESTAR + GERUNDIO in past = past progressive. ‘Estaba lloviendo’ = it was raining (ongoing when something else happened). Sets up the background action interrupted by pretérito.

Question 3

Llevo dos años estudiando español.

Answer 3

LLEVAR + GERUNDIO = to have been doing something for a period. ‘Llevo dos años estudiando’ = I have been studying for two years. Very natural Rioplatense alternative to pretérito perfecto compuesto.

Question 4

Sigo practicando aunque cometo errores.

Answer 4

SEGUIR + GERUNDIO = to keep doing / to continue doing. ‘Sigo practicando’ = I keep practicing. Other motion verbs + gerundio: ‘continuar practicando’ = to continue practicing.

Question 5

Acabé de llegar cuando sonó el teléfono.

Answer 5

ACABAR DE + INFINITIVO (not gerundio) = to have just done. Important contrast — ‘acabar de’ uses infinitive, not gerundio. ‘Acabo de llegar’ = I just arrived.

Question 6

Andar quejándose no soluciona nada.

Answer 6

ANDAR + GERUNDIO = to go around doing something (often negative/habitual). ‘Andar quejándose’ = to go around complaining. Rioplatense: implies a habitual, somewhat annoying action.

Question 7

Viene mejorando desde que empezó las clases.

Answer 7

VENIR + GERUNDIO = progressive development over time. ‘Viene mejorando’ = she has been progressively improving. Implies gradual change — more dynamic than simple ‘está mejorando’.

Question 8

Estudiar escuchando música le resulta difícil.

Answer 8

GERUNDIO as adverb — manner. ‘Escuchando música’ describes HOW she studies. The gerundio modifies the main verb by describing the manner or circumstance of the action.

Question 9

Viviendo en CABA, aprendió mucho lunfardo.

Answer 9

GERUNDIO as adverb — condition/circumstance. ‘Viviendo en CABA’ = while/by living in CABA. The gerundio establishes the circumstance under which the main action occurred.

Question 10

Habiendo estudiado tanto, aprobó fácilmente.

Answer 10

GERUNDIO COMPUESTO (habiendo + participio) = having done. ‘Habiendo estudiado’ = having studied. The gerundio compuesto indicates the gerund action was completed BEFORE the main verb.

Question 11

Sabiendo que venías, preparé todo.

Answer 11

GERUNDIO expressing cause. ‘Sabiendo que venías’ = knowing that you were coming / because I knew you were coming. The gerundio gives the reason for the main action.

Question 12

Leyendo ese libro, mejoré mucho.

Answer 12

GERUNDIO expressing means/method. ‘Leyendo ese libro’ = by reading that book. The gerundio expresses HOW the improvement happened — the method used.

Question 13

Vi a María cruzando la calle.

Answer 13

GERUNDIO after verbs of perception. ‘Vi a María cruzando’ = I saw María crossing. The gerundio describes what the object (María) was doing at the moment of perception.

Question 14

La escuché cantando desde afuera.

Answer 14

GERUNDIO after escuchar/ver/sentir. ‘La escuché cantando’ = I heard her singing. The gerundio follows the direct object and describes that object’s action. Very natural construction.

Question 15

Encontré a los chicos jugando en el patio.

Answer 15

GERUNDIO after encontrar. ‘Los encontré jugando’ = I found them playing. The gerundio describes what state the object was in when found. Common with encontrar, dejar, pillar.

Question 16

Salió corriendo cuando lo vio.

Answer 16

GERUNDIO with motion verbs for manner. ‘Salió corriendo’ = she left running / she ran out. ‘Entró gritando, llegó llorando’ — manner gerundio with motion verbs is very natural.

Question 17

Voy caminando al laburo todos los días.

Answer 17

GERUNDIO with ir for manner of movement. ‘Voy caminando’ = I go on foot / I walk there. ‘Ir + gerundio’ describes how you travel. ‘Va corriendo’ = he goes running.

Question 18

Siendo honesta, no me pareció tan bueno.

Answer 18

GERUNDIO as concessive opener. ‘Siendo honesta’ = being honest / to be honest. Used to introduce an admission or honest assessment. Very natural in spoken Spanish.

Question 19

Teniendo en cuenta todo, fue una buena decisión.

Answer 19

GERUNDIO in fixed expressions. ‘Teniendo en cuenta’ = taking into account / considering. Fixed expressions: ‘dicho esto’ uses participio, but ‘teniendo en cuenta, hablando de, tratándose de’ use gerundio.

Question 20

Hablando de CABA, ¿cuándo viajás?

Answer 20

GERUNDIO as topic introducer. ‘Hablando de’ = speaking of / on the topic of. ‘Hablando de trabajo…’ = speaking of work… Very natural conversation pivot in Rioplatense speech.

Question 21

No gerundio: *Siendo estudiante, le dieron una beca.

Answer 21

INCORRECT use — gerundio subject must match main clause subject. The student didn’t give herself the scholarship. CORRECT: ‘Por ser estudiante, le dieron una beca.’ Common learner error.

Question 22

Tratándose de tu tutora, seguro que lo hace bien.

Answer 22

GERUNDIO in impersonal expressions. ‘Tratándose de’ = given that it’s / seeing as it’s. ‘Tratándose de Argentina, hay que esperar lo inesperado.’ Fixed expression worth memorizing.

Question 23

Dicho esto, volvamos al tema principal.

Answer 23

PARTICIPIO (not gerundio) in fixed expressions. ‘Dicho esto’ = having said that. Some fixed expressions use participio rather than gerundio — don’t confuse them: ‘dicho esto, visto esto, hecho esto’.

Question 24

La película fue filmada usando cámaras antiguas.

Answer 24

GERUNDIO in passive-like constructions. ‘Usando cámaras antiguas’ = using old cameras. Describes the method of the passive action. More natural than a complex passive construction.

Question 25

Está que muerde de los nervios.

Answer 25

ESTAR QUE + INDICATIVE (not gerundio) — fixed Rioplatense expression. 'Está que muerde' = she's so nervous she could bite / she's absolutely furious. Reminder that not all progressive expressions use gerundio.

Question 26

Siguió hablando aunque nadie lo escuchaba.

Answer 26

SEGUIR + GERUNDIO with contrast. 'Siguió hablando aunque...' = he kept talking even though... 'Seguir + gerundio' persists despite circumstances. Very natural narrative construction.

Question 27

Va mejorando de a poco.

Answer 27

IR + GERUNDIO for gradual progressive change. 'Va mejorando' = it's gradually getting better. 'De a poco' = little by little (very Rioplatense). The combination captures gradual improvement naturally.

Question 28

Estaré trabajando cuando llegués.

Answer 28

ESTAR + GERUNDIO in future. 'Estaré trabajando' = I will be working. Future progressive — action will be in progress at a future moment. Voseo: 'cuando llegués' (not llegues).