cantando
kahn-TAHN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermano está cantando una canción muy famosa en la radio.
A1My brother is singing a very famous song on the radio.
Ella trabaja en la cocina cantando para pasar el tiempo.
A2She works in the kitchen singing to pass the time.
Llevamos tres horas cantando en el karaoke, me duele la garganta.
B1We have been singing for three hours at karaoke; my throat hurts.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Continuous Actions
You use 'cantando' (the gerund) with a form of the verb 'estar' (like 'estoy,' 'estás,' 'está') to show an action happening at the moment of speaking: 'Estamos cantando' (We are singing).
Describing the Manner of Action
You can also use 'cantando' by itself to explain how someone did something: 'Caminó cantando' (He walked, singing/while singing).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Soy cantando"
Correction: Estoy cantando. Remember, 'estar' is always used with 'cantando' to describe temporary, ongoing actions.
Confusing Gerund and Infinitive
Mistake: "Quiero ir a cantar ahora."
Correction: Quiero ir a cantar ahora. (This is correct, but the mistake is using 'cantando' when you mean 'to sing'). Remember, 'cantando' is only used for continuous action or describing manner.
⭐ Usage Tips
The '-ando' Rule
For all verbs ending in -ar, the continuous form (the gerund) always ends in '-ando' (cantar → cantando, hablar → hablando). This is always regular.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cantando
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'cantando' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'cantar' and 'cantando'?
'Cantar' is the base form (the infinitive), meaning 'to sing'—it names the action. 'Cantando' is the gerund form, meaning 'singing'—it describes the action in progress or the manner in which someone does something.
¿Cantando is only used with 'estar'?
Mostly, yes, for showing continuous action ('Estoy cantando'). However, you can also use it with verbs like 'seguir' (to continue) or 'ir' (to go) to show an action is progressing over time, or by itself to describe how someone performs another action ('Corrió cantando').