Verbs – The 'Gerund' (forming ‘ing......’ sentences)

Summary of contents – Lesson 16

1-     What is the ‘gerund’? A Look at how the ‘gerund’ is used to form continuous tenses with ‘estar’. How the ‘gerund’ is formed with regular verbs.

2-     Looking at how the 'gerund' is formed with some common irregular verbs. (Common endings but irregular stems.)

3-     How the ‘gerund’ is used with other verbs instead of ‘estar’ to form sentences.

4-     How the use of the 'gerund' in English differs to how it is used in Spanish. When the gerund cannot be used in sentences where they might be commonplace in English.

Aims of the lesson

1-     To be aware that the principle usage of the ‘gerund’ occurs in the formation of continuous tense sentences. Understanding how they are formed using different tenses of the verb ‘estar’.

2-     Knowing in what common situations the ‘gerund’ may be used to formulate sentences other than with the verb ‘estar’. Using other verbs instead of ‘estar’ such as verbs conveying movement.

3-     Being able to correctly formulate verbs when using the ‘gerund’ and being aware of the most common stem changes that occur when forming irregular verbs.

4-     Knowing how to form sentences in Spanish where in English the ‘gerund’ might normally be used.