Infinitive, Gerund, and Participle

Kurz erklärt

Spanish has three non-finite verb forms: the infinitive names an action, the gerund presents it as ongoing, and the past participle presents it as completed or as a resulting state. These forms do not show person, so they do not change for yo, tú, or other subjects.

Bildung

Infinitive: hablar, comer, vivir. Gerund: stem + -ando for -ar verbs; stem + -iendo for -er/-ir verbs (hablando, comiendo, viviendo). Past participle: stem + -ado for -ar verbs; stem + -ido for -er/-ir verbs (hablado, comido, vivido).

Verwendung

• Use the infinitive as the basic dictionary form and to name an activity.
• Use the gerund with estar to describe an action in progress.
• Use the past participle with haber in perfect tenses.
• A participle used as an adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun.

Beispiele

• Cocinar es divertido. — Cooking is fun.
• Estamos preparando la cena. — We are preparing dinner.
• He terminado mi tarea. — I have finished my homework.
• Las ventanas están cerradas. — The windows are closed.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Estoy preparar la cena.

✅ Estoy preparando la cena.

After estar, use the gerund, not the infinitive, for an action in progress.

Merke

Infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir; regular gerunds end in -ando or -iendo, and regular participles in -ado or -ido.