buscando
/boos-KAHN-doh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estoy buscando mis llaves.
A1I am looking for my keys.
¿Qué estás buscando?
A1What are you looking for?
Pasé la tarde buscando información en la biblioteca.
A2I spent the afternoon searching for information in the library.
Llevamos horas buscando una solución.
B1We've been looking for a solution for hours.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spanish '-ing' Form
buscando is the Spanish equivalent of adding '-ing' to 'look for'. It's a special form called a gerund (gerundio) that describes an action in progress. You'll almost always see it paired with a form of the verb estar (to be).
It Never Changes
One great thing about buscando is that it always stays the same, no matter who is doing the action. It's buscando for 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she', or 'they'. The verb estar is the one that changes: Estoy buscando, Estás buscando, Están buscando.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Adding an Unnecessary 'for'
Mistake: "Estoy buscando por mis llaves."
Correction: Just say `Estoy buscando mis llaves.` In Spanish, the verb `buscar` already includes the idea of 'for,' so you don't need to add another word like `por`.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just Looking
You can also use buscando to mean 'picking up' someone, usually in a vehicle. For example, Paso por tu casa a las 8, buscando a María primero means 'I'll swing by your house at 8, picking up María first.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: buscando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'buscando'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'buscando' and 'buscar'?
`buscar` is the base form of the verb, like 'to look for'. You use it in sentences like 'I need to look for my keys' (`Necesito buscar mis llaves`). `buscando` is the action-in-progress form, like 'looking for'. You use it to say what is happening right now: 'I am looking for my keys' (`Estoy buscando mis llaves`).
Why don't you say 'buscando por' for 'looking for'?
It's a common point of confusion for English speakers! In Spanish, the verb `buscar` is 'transitive,' which is a fancy way of saying it doesn't need a helper word like 'for' to connect to the thing being looked for. The idea of 'for' is already built into the verb itself.
Can I use 'buscando' by itself, without 'estar'?
Yes, but it's a bit more advanced. You can use it to describe how someone does something. For example, `Ella camina por la tienda, buscando ofertas` means 'She walks through the store, looking for deals.' Here, 'looking for deals' describes how she is walking.