Spanish gerunds are invariable and always end in -ndo(for full details of
forms, see 10.8). Broadly speaking the Spanish gerund conveys the idea of
‘in doing’, ‘while doing’ or ‘by doing’. Students should note that English
nouns and adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ normally are nottranslated by a
Spanish gerund (see 18.5).
The gerund is also used in combination with estarto form the progressive
tenses (see 10.10).Basic use of the gerund
The basic effect of the gerund is to indicate that the action it refers to occurs
at the same time (more or less) as the action described by the main verb:
Antonio contestó sonriendo. Antonio smiled as he replied.
Lo esperé leyendo el While I waited for him I read the
periódico. paper.
As an extension of this usage, the gerund can indicate method, cause or
purpose. It may correspond to ‘by’ + gerund, ‘as/since’ + clause, or ‘to’ +
infinitive:
Ganaron haciendo trampas. They won by cheating.
Llamándola por teléfono la You’ll frighten her off by phoning
vas a espantar. her.
Estando en Granada tienes As you are in Granada you have
que visitar la Alhambra. to visit the Alhambra.
Me gritaron pidiendo ayuda. They shouted to ask for help.
Note: If the word comois inserted before the gerund, the simultaneous action
becomes imaginary rather than real, similar to como si‘as if’+ subjunctive: Movió
la cabeza como diciendo no ‘He shook his head as if saying no’.18.1