Gerund and Participle in Spanish

The gerund and the participle are non-personal forms of the verb (just like the infinitive) that can be easy to confuse for beginner Spanish students, as they may seem similar, but they actually have entirely different functions and uses.

In this article, you will learn what each one is, their main uses, the key differences between them, and how to avoid the most common mistakes when using them in Spanish.

Let’s go!

What is the gerund?

The gerund is a verbal form that allows us to talk about actions that are currently in progress or about actions that are occurring simultaneously. Its equivalent in English would be the suffix “-ing” (as in the words singing or running). 
It can be formed by adding the ending -ando to verbs that end in -ar and the ending -iendo to verbs that end in either -er or -ir. Examples of forming the gerund:

Estudiar → estudiando (to study → studying) 
Estoy estudiando para el examen. (I am studying for the exam.)

Escribir → escribiendo (to write → writing) 
Él está escribiendo un libro. (He is writing a book.)

Leer → leyendo (to read → reading) 
Estoy leyendo un libro en inglés. (I am reading a book in English.)

Main uses of the gerund:

Actions in progress: The gerund allows us to talk about something that is happening at this moment. 
Estoy aprendiendo sobre gramática en español. (I am learning about grammar in Spanish.)

Simultaneity: The gerund also helps us describe two actions that are occurring at the same time. 
"Ella canta mientras está tocando la guitarra." (She sings while she is playing the guitar.)

Repetition of actions: The gerund is also useful for expressing actions that are repeated more than once or actions that are already habitual. 
Estuve repitiendo la misma canción durante horas. (I was repeating the same song for hours.)

Examples of sentences in Spanish using the gerund:

• Estoy bebiendo café en la cafetería frente al parque. (I am drinking coffee in the café in front of the park.)
• Ellos estuvieron bailando toda la noche en la fiesta. (They were dancing all night at the party.)
• Ella sigue hablando con su amiga de la secundaria. (She continues talking with her high school friend.)
• Nosotros estamos aprendiendo español juntos. (We are learning Spanish together.)
• Voy trabajando poco a poco en mi proyecto. (I am working little by little on my project.)

What is the participle?

The participle, on the other hand, is another verbal form that indicates actions that have already been completed. Its equivalent in English would be the suffix “-ed” or “-en” (as in the words started or moved).

In Spanish, it is formed by adding -ado for verbs ending in -ar and -ido for those ending in -er and -ir. There are also many irregular participles that you should memorize. Examples of forming the participle:

• Trabajar → trabajado (to work → worked)
• Leer → leído (to read → read)
• Sugerir → sugerido (to suggest → suggested)

Main uses of the participle:

Compound tenses: The participle combines with the verb haber to form tenses like the present perfect. 
He comido mucho hoy. (I have eaten a lot today.)

Adjectives: The participle also helps to describe characteristics of nouns. 
La puerta está cerrada. (The door is closed.)

Passive constructions: The participle also appears in passive voice sentences, where the subject receives the action. 
El libro fue escrito por un autor famoso. (The book was written by a famous author.)

Examples of sentences in Spanish using the participle:

• He terminado mi tarea. (I have finished my homework.)
• El paquete fue enviado ayer. (The package was sent yesterday.)
• Ellos han paseado por toda la ciudad. (They have walked all over the city.)
• El jarrón está roto. (The vase is broken.)
• El examen fue corregido por la profesora. (The exam was corrected by the teacher.)

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Comparison between the Gerund and the Participle

As you may have noticed, although both the gerund and the participle are non-personal forms of the verb, their functions are completely different. Here we summarize and explain the key differences:

Comparative Examples:

Gerund: Estoy estudiando español. (I am studying Spanish.) (at this moment) 
Participle: He estudiado español desde que tenía 12 años. (I have studied Spanish since I was 12 years old.) (recurring action)

Gerund: Voy aprendiendo poco a poco. (I am learning little by little.) (ongoing action) 
Participle: El tema ya está aprendido. (The topic is already learned.) (completed action)

Gerund: Ella sigue hablando con su amigo. (She continues talking with her friend.) (action that continues in the present) 
Participle: El amigo está sorprendido por la noticia. (The friend is surprised by the news.) (state resulting from an action)

Common Mistakes When Confusing the Gerund and the Participle

It is common to confuse the gerund with the participle or vice versa because they are somewhat similar in formation or context. But don’t worry, here we will explain the most common mistakes so you can avoid them easily:

Using the gerund as an adjective

The gerund cannot be used to describe a noun. For that, we use the participle or a similar phrase. Example:

• Incorrect: El hombre trabajando está cansado. (The man working is tired.)
• Correct: El hombre que trabaja está cansado. (The man who works is tired.)

Using the participle for ongoing actions

Remember that the gerund is what we use to describe actions that are in development at this moment, not the participle. Example:

• Incorrect: Estoy hablado con mi amigo. (I am talked with my friend.)
• Correct: Estoy hablando con mi amigo. (I am talking with my friend.)

Using the regular participle when it is irregular

Some verbs have irregular participles that are important to memorize so we can use them correctly in our sentences. Example:

• Incorrect: Los lentes están rompidos. 
• Correct: Los lentes están rotos. (The glasses are broken.)

Confusing the auxiliaries "haber" and "estar"

The verb “haber” helps us form compound tenses with the participle, while the verb "estar" is the one we should use with the gerund. Example:

• Incorrect: Yo estoy hablado con él. (I am talked with him.)
• Correct: Yo he hablado con él. (I have talked with him.) (participle)

Using the gerund for future actions

In Spanish, it is not correct to use the gerund to talk about the future. Example:

• Incorrect: Estaré yendo a tu casa mañana. (I will be going to your house tomorrow.)
• Correct: Iré a tu casa mañana. (I will go to your house tomorrow.)

Summary

The gerund and the participle are non-personal forms of the verb in Spanish with very different functions and uses. The gerund describes ongoing or simultaneous actions, while the participle indicates completed actions and can function as an adjective or form compound tenses.

Don’t forget to practice through your Promova app, and you will see how little by little you will be able to identify and differentiate them more easily, allowing you to speak Spanish like a professional.

Keep going!