Spanish Verbs - Present Participles

Beginning Spanish: A basic course in the Spanish language


 
Present participles in Spanish

In English, present participles are verb forms that end in ing, such as giving, talking, and running. In Spanish, present participles are formed as follows:

  • If the Spanish verb ends in ar, drop the ar and add ando.

    Example:

    cantar   to sing
    cantando   singing
     
  • If the verb ends in er, drop the er and add iendo.

    Example:

    comer   to eat
    comiendo   eating
     
  • If the verb ends in ir, drop the ir and add iendo.

    Example:

    recibir   to receive
    recibiendo   receiving
 
There are several common Spanish verbs that have irregular present participle forms (they don't follow the above rules).

Spanish verbs with irregular present participles:

caer
to fall

conseguir
to attain, to achieve

construir
to construct

corregir
to correct

creer
to believe

decir
to say, to tell

despedirse
to say goodbye

destruir
to destroy

divertirse
to enjoy oneself

dormir
to sleep

huir
to flee

ir
to go

leer
to read

mentir
to tell a lie

oír
to hear

pedir
to ask for, to request

poder
to be able

reír
to laugh

repetir
to repeat

seguir
to follow

sentir
to feel

servir
to serve

traer
to bring

venir
to come

vestir
to dress

vestirse
to dress oneself
cayendo
falling

consiguiendo
attaining, achieving

construyendo
constructing

corrigiendo
correcting

creyendo
believing

diciendo
saying, telling

despidiéndose
saying goodbye

destruyendo
destroying

divertiéndose
enjoying oneself

durmiendo
sleeping

huyendo
fleeing

yendo
going

leyendo
reading

mintiendo
lying

oyendo
hearing

pidiendo
asking for, requesting

pudiendo
being able

riendo
laughing

repitiendo
repeating

siguiendo
following

sintiendo
feeling

sirviendo
serving

trayendo
bringing

viniendo
coming

vistiendo
dressing

vistiéndose
dressing oneself

 
Back to the Spanish Course menu
 
More Interesting Articles