Gerunds and participles are two types of verb forms in Spanish that serve different grammatical functions. Gerunds (ending in -ando or -iendo) describe actions that are currently happening (“-ing” in English). Participles, specifically past participles (usually ending in -ado or -ido), are used to form perfect tenses and can also function as adjectives.
Gerunds
Gerunds describe actions that are ongoing, often translated as “-ing” in English. They are used with the verb estar to form the present progressive (e.g., estoy hablando = “I am speaking”). Gerunds can also be used as adverbs to describe how something is done.
How to Form Gerunds
| Verb Ending | Spanish Gerund | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ar | hablando | speaking |
| -er | comiendo | eating |
| -ir | viviéndo | living |
Irregular Gerunds
Some verbs have irregular gerund forms, typically involving a stem change or a spelling change to maintain pronunciation.
| Infinitive | Gerund | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ir | yendo | Estoy yendo al parque.* |
| leer | leyendo | Está leyendo un libro.* |
| dormir | durmiendo | Estoy durmiendo.* |
Using Gerunds in Sentences
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Estoy escribiendo una carta. | I am writing a letter. |
| Sigue corriendo a pesar de la lluvia. | He keeps running despite the rain. |
| Salió gritando por la puerta. | She left shouting through the door. |
Past Participles
Past participles in Spanish typically end in -ado (for -ar verbs) or -ido (for -er and -ir verbs). They are used to form perfect tenses with haber (e.g., he hablado = “I have spoken”) and can also be used as adjectives (e.g., la carta escrita = “the written letter”).
How to Form Past Participles
| Verb Ending | Spanish Participle | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ar | hablado | spoken |
| -er | comido | eaten |
| -ir | vivido | lived |
Irregular Past Participles
Many common verbs have irregular past participles.
| Infinitive | Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hacer | hecho | He hecho la tarea.* |
| abrir | abierto | La puerta está abierta.* |
| escribir | escrito | El informe fue escrito ayer.* |
| ver | visto | He visto esa película.* |
Using Past Participles in Sentences
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| He terminado mi trabajo. | I have finished my work. |
| La carta escrita está sobre la mesa. | The written letter is on the table. |
| El coche está reparado. | The car is repaired. |
Differences
| Gerund | Past Participle |
|---|---|
| Describes an ongoing action. | Describes a completed action or state. |
| Used with estar to form the progressive. | Used with haber to form perfect tenses. |
| Can function as an adverb. | Can function as an adjective. |
Summary
- Gerunds end in -ando (for -ar) or -iendo (for -er/-ir).
- Use gerunds with estar for ongoing actions.
- Past participles end in -ado (for -ar) or -ido (for -er/-ir) and some are irregular.
- Use past participles with haber for perfect tenses or alone as adjectives.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- Verb Ending: -ar
- English Example: speaking
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
