Some -ir verbs with an irregular gerundio (“-ing” form equivalent)

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Some -ir verbs with an irregular gerundio (“-ing” form equivalent)

Reminder: the gerundio (“-ing” form equivalent) expresses an ongoing action. Its regular forms are constructed with the endings -ando or -iendo, depending on the infinitive.

Ana está nadando en la piscina (nadar → nadando)

Ana is swimming in the pool (nadar/to swim → nadando/swimming)

Están corriendo por el campo (correr → corriendo)

They are running through the field (correr/to run → corriendo/running)

Some -ir verbs, such as decir, servir, reír and pedir, change the e to an i.

  • decir → diciendo (to say/to tell → saying/telling)

Estoy diciendo la verdad.

I'm telling the truth.

  • servir → sirviendo (to serve → serving)

Carolina ha estado sirviendo zapatos.

Carolina has been serving shoes.

  • reír → riendo (to laugh → laughing)

Estás riendo muy fuerte.

You're laughing very loudly.

  • pedir → pidiendo (to ask for/to order → asking for/ordering)

Nacho está pidiendo una pizza.

Nacho is ordering a pizza.

Other verbs following this irregular pattern are venir → viniendo (to come → coming), seguir → siguiendo (to follow → following), vestir → vistiendo (to dress → dressing), despedir → despidiendo (to say goodbye/to dismiss → saying goodby/dismissing), concebir → concibiendo (to conceive → conceiving) and derretir → derritiendo (to melt → melting).

Note: most of these verbs follow the same irregular pattern in the simple present and all subjunctive tenses.

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