BASIC SPANISH: A GRAMMAR AND WORKBOOK

Position of pronouns with the gerund

As we saw in Unit 11, pronouns are added to the end of certain verb forms, and the
gerund is one such form. In the case of the present continuous tense, however, the
pronoun(s) can either be added to the gerund or placed before the form of estar:
e.g. Está lavándose (or se está lavando).
He is washing (himself).
Estamos comprándola (or la estamos comprando).
We are buying it.

Notice that when a pronoun is added to the end of a gerund, it becomes necessary to add
a stress mark. This follows the natural rules of stress (see introductory section on
‘Stress’).

Exercises

1 Write the gerund of the following verbs, taking into account that there may be some
radical changing verbs:
1 cantar 6 oir 11 contar
2 correr 7 ver 12 oler
3 escribir 8 bailar 13 conducir
4 reir 9 leer 14 dormir
5 caer 10 freir 15 ser

2 Translate these sentences into Spanish. Join the two sentences into one with a gerund,
as in the example:
Example: They go to the park. They are skipping.
Van al parque saltando.

1 She comes in. She is crying.

2 They go to school. They are running.

3 You study (Vd.). You are listening to music.

4 We paint the walls. We are singing.

5 I talk. I am shouting.

6 He sleeps. He is snoring.

7 You (Vds.) have dinner. You (Vds.) are watching the television.

8 You (vosotros) have breakfast. You (vosotros) are reading the newspaper.

3 Change the following conditional sentences into one with a gerund as in the example:

Basic Spanish: A grammar and workbook 108