bebiendo
beh-byen-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estamos bebiendo jugo de naranja.
A1We are drinking orange juice.
Mi perro estaba bebiendo agua del inodoro. ¡Qué asco!
A2My dog was drinking water from the toilet. How gross!
Llegó a la cima de la montaña bebiendo mucha agua y descansando poco.
B1He reached the top of the mountain by drinking a lot of water and resting little.
💡 Grammar Points
The Continuous Action
This form is used to show an action that is in progress. You almost always use it with a form of the verb estar (to be), like 'Estoy bebiendo' (I am drinking).
Forming '-ing' Words
For verbs that end in -ER or -IR, you replace the ending with '-iendo'. Since beber ends in -ER, it becomes bebiendo.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'Estar'
Mistake: "Using 'Yo bebiendo' to mean 'I am drinking'."
Correction: You must include the verb *estar* to show continuous action: 'Yo **estoy** bebiendo'. The gerund cannot stand alone.
Using the Simple Present Instead
Mistake: "Saying 'Yo bebo café ahora' (I drink coffee now) when you mean 'I am drinking coffee now.'"
Correction: While sometimes acceptable, Spanish prefers the continuous form for actions happening *at this moment*: 'Estoy bebiendo café ahora'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking about the 'How'
You can use bebiendo alone (without estar) to describe how someone does something, often translated as 'by drinking': 'Aprendió bebiendo de la fuente' (He learned by drinking from the fountain).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bebiendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'bebiendo' to describe an action happening right now?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'bebo' and 'estoy bebiendo'?
'Bebo' is the simple present ('I drink,' usually meaning 'I drink generally' or 'I drink habitually'). 'Estoy bebiendo' uses *bebiendo* to mean 'I am drinking right now' or 'I am in the process of drinking'.
Can I use 'bebiendo' as an adjective?
No. Unlike some English '-ing' words (like 'an interesting book'), *bebiendo* always describes an action or how an action is done. It cannot be placed before a noun to describe it.