comiendo
koh-mee-EHN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estoy comiendo un sándwich ahora mismo.
A1I am eating a sandwich right now.
Mi perro se durmió comiendo su hueso.
A2My dog fell asleep while eating his bone.
Llevamos tres horas comiendo en la fiesta.
B1We have been eating for three hours at the party.
💡 Grammar Points
The Continuous Action Form
This form, 'comiendo,' is like the English '-ing' form. It is most often used with the verb 'estar' (to be) to show that an action is happening at that exact moment: 'Estamos comiendo' (We are eating).
Always Invariable
Unlike adjectives, 'comiendo' never changes its ending. It is always 'comiendo,' whether the person eating is masculine, feminine, plural, or singular.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Simple Present Instead of Continuous
Mistake: "¿Qué comes?"
Correction: ¿Qué estás comiendo? (If asking what someone is eating right now.) The simple present 'comes' usually refers to habits or future plans, not immediate action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using it Alone
You can sometimes use 'comiendo' by itself to explain how an action happens: 'Aprendió español comiendo tapas.' (He learned Spanish while eating tapas.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comiendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'comiendo' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'comiendo' used instead of 'comiendo's' or 'comiendas' when talking about multiple people?
'Comiendo' is a special verb form (the gerund) that never changes its spelling, regardless of who is performing the action. The verb that changes to match the person is the helping verb, usually 'estar' (e.g., 'Yo estoy comiendo,' 'Ellos están comiendo').
Is 'comiendo' the same as 'to eat'?
No. 'Comiendo' means 'eating' (the continuous action). The base form, or infinitive, is 'comer,' which means 'to eat.'