Estoy aprendiendo español: estar + gerundio
he construction "estar + gerundio" (to be + gerund), one of the so-called verbal periphrases, is very frequently used in the Spanish language. In this article, we will see what a verbal periphrasis is, what it's used for, and, in particular, the formation and uses of the construction "estar + gerundio." And, of course, examples of usage. Let's go!
What is a verbal periphrasis?
We speak of periphrasis when we have a structure formed by several words that, to explain it in a simple way, complement each other to convey a unique meaning, particularly – but not exclusively – when this meaning could be conveyed by a synthetic structure. For example, in Spanish you can say mañana jugaré al fútbol (tomorrow I will play soccer), but normally in spoken language the periphrasis ir + a + infinitivo is used: mañana voy a jugar al fútbol (tomorrow I’m going to play soccer). Or, for example, to indicate a superlative, in most cases más + adjective is used: el más bonito. This, in other languages, can indeed be resolved with a synthetic structure: the prettiest in English, der schönste in German.
A verbal periphrasis is, then, a structure in which two or more verbs complement each other to convey a unique meaning. Sometimes they are joined by some connector, as in ir + a + infinitivo with the preposition a, and sometimes not, as in the periphrasis we dedicate this article to: estar + gerundio. They are composed of an auxiliary verb, conjugated, that contributes aspects of modality or aspectuality, and one or more main verbs that complete the lexical meaning, and that are found in non-personal forms, that is, in gerund, participle, or infinitive.
Verbal periphrases in Spanish convey information about, for example, beginning, development, termination, etc., of actions, which simpler verbal conjugation structures are not capable of conveying. And while in this article we’re going to talk about one in particular, estar + gerundio, I found the explanation pertinent. Because knowledge takes up no space, because understanding what periphrases are will make it easier for us to understand others, since there are many of very frequent use in Spanish, and because understanding what verbal periphrases are helps to understand one of the phrases in the Spanish language that generates the most memes among those who acquire the language: me voy a ir yendo.
Grammatical structure.
The verbal periphrasis estar + gerundio is formed with the verb estar as auxiliary, conjugated with the grammatical subject, and the gerund of the main verb.
Conjugation of the verb “estar” in present indicative
Yo estoy
Tú estás
Él/Ella/Usted está
Nosotros/as estamos
Vosotros/as estáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están
Formation of the gerund.
Verbs ending in -ar: verb stem + ando
Hablar: hablando (to speak: speaking)
Caminar: caminando (to walk: walking)
Verbs ending in -er or -ir: verb stem + iendo
Comer: comiendo (to eat: eating)
Vivir: viviendo (to live: living)
Irregular gerunds of frequent use
Verbs with vowel change e – i:
Pedir: pidiendo (to ask for: asking for)
Servir: sirviendo (to serve: serving)
Repetir: repitiendo (to repeat: repeating)
Vestir: vistiendo (to dress: dressing)
Verbs with vowel change o – u:
Dormir: durmiendo (to sleep: sleeping)
Morir: muriendo (to die: dying)
Poder: pudiendo (to be able to: being able to)
Verbs ending in -eer, -aer, -oer, -uir:
Leer: leyendo (to read: reading)
Caer: cayendo (to fall: falling)
Construir: construyendo (to build: building)
Huir: huyendo (to flee: fleeing)
Completely irregular gerunds:
Ir: yendo (to go: going)
Uses of estar + gerundio.
Actions in progress at the present moment.
¿Qué estás haciendo? (What are you doing?)
Estoy leyendo un libro. (I am reading a book.) (Right now)
In the article about present indicative, we have seen that it is possible to convey this last meaning with the present indicative, that is, the previous dialogue could be ¿Qué haces? Leo un libro. But the structure most used in spoken language for this function is estar + gerundio.
This structure admits, of course, direct and indirect object pronouns and reflexive pronouns that can be placed in different positions. Let’s see examples:
Estoy lavándome las manos. / Me estoy lavando las manos. (I am washing my hands.)
Estoy escribiendo una carta. / Estoy escribiéndola. / La estoy escribiendo. (I am writing a letter. / I am writing it.)
Le estoy preparando un café. / Se lo estoy preparando. / Estoy preparándoselo. (I am preparing coffee for him/her. / I am preparing it for him/her.)
Here, here and here you can read more about all these pronouns and their positions in the sentence.
Temporary actions
When we refer to something that changed temporarily and whose fixed or lasting state is known, we use estar + gerundio.
Luisa está viviendo en Argentina. (Luisa is living in Argentina.) (Temporarily, we know that, for example, her fixed residence is in Colombia. In this case it would be incorrect to say Luisa vive en Argentina because it conveys, precisely, the message that Argentina is her fixed country of residence.)
Estoy trabajando en una farmacia. (I am working in a pharmacy.) (Again, it conveys the idea that it is temporary work, unlike trabajo en una farmacia, which conveys the message that it is my fixed occupation.)
Gradual change or evolution
El clima está cambiando mucho. (The climate is changing a lot.) (Over the years)
Mi español está mejorando. (My Spanish is improving.) (With time)
Repetitive actions: this particular use has a nuance of annoyance or, at least, surprise.
¡Siempre estás quejándote! (You are always complaining!) (Even though that person is not complaining right now)
Mis hijos siempre están jugando videojuegos y no estudian. (My children are always playing video games and don’t study.) (Even though at this moment they are at school)
Here I leave you exercises to practice this topic, which I think is quite simple. Comparatively, taking into account the other languages in which I write this blog, in English estar + gerundio coincides quite well with the present continuous, in German with the use of Präsens Indikativ + gerade (Was machst du? Ich esse gerade), and in French it coincides much more with the structure Être en train de than with the use of the gérondif as such. Thanks for reading!
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