# Forming the gerund: hablando, comiendo, viviendo

> id: conjugation.progressive.gerund-formation · category: conjugation · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** -ar verbs take -ando (hablando); -er and -ir verbs take -iendo (comiendo, viviendo). The gerund is invariable.

Formation: stem + -ando for -ar verbs, stem + -iendo for -er/-ir verbs. The gerund never agrees with anything: ella está trabajando, ellos siguen trabajando.

Its core job is the progressive with estar, but it also follows seguir/continuar (sigo esperando), ir (va mejorando), llevar (llevo dos horas esperando), and expresses manner: aprendí escuchando.

Key contrast with English: after prepositions, Spanish uses the infinitive, never the gerund — antes de comer, not *antes de comiendo. Pronouns can attach with an accent: esperándote, diciéndolo.

## Examples
- Estoy trabajando desde casa. — I'm working from home.
- Aprendí español escuchando podcasts. — I learned Spanish by listening to podcasts.
- Sigue lloviendo. — It's still raining.

Related: conjugation.progressive.estar-gerund, conjugation.progressive.gerund-irregular, conjugation.nonfinite.infinitive

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