comprando
kom-pran-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estamos comprando los regalos de Navidad ahora mismo.
A1We are buying the Christmas presents right now.
¿Qué estabas comprando cuando te llamé?
A2What were you buying when I called you?
Ella siguió comprando ropa a pesar de tener el armario lleno.
B1She kept buying clothes despite having a full closet.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming the Gerund
This word is the 'gerund' (the -ing form) of the verb 'comprar'. For all verbs that end in -ar, you replace the -ar with -ando.
Ongoing Actions (The Progressive)
Its main use is with the verb 'estar' to describe an action happening exactly at the moment you speak: 'Estoy comprando' (I am buying).
Using it after other verbs
You can use 'comprando' after verbs like 'seguir' (to continue) or 'ir' (to go, as in 'little by little'): 'Sigo comprando' (I keep buying).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'ser' and 'estar'
Mistake: "Soy comprando."
Correction: Estoy comprando. Remember, the ongoing action must always use 'estar' (to be temporarily) because the action is temporary.
Using the gerund like an English adjective
Mistake: "Los libros comprando."
Correction: Los libros comprados. In Spanish, the gerund 'comprando' must describe an action, not a state; use the past participle ('comprado') for adjectives.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always Invariable
The form 'comprando' never changes. It doesn't matter if the subject is male, female, singular, or plural; it always stays 'comprando'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comprando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'comprando' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comprando' the same as 'comprado'?
No, they are different forms of the verb 'comprar'. 'Comprando' means 'buying' (the action is happening now). 'Comprado' means 'bought' (the action is finished, or it's used as an adjective, like 'the bought item').
Can I use 'comprando' by itself without 'estar'?
Yes, but it often connects to another verb, usually to show how an action is performed, such as 'Ganó dinero comprando y vendiendo acciones' (He earned money by buying and selling stocks).