cortando
/kor-TAHN-doh/
cutting
Cortando: Dividing paper with scissors.
cortando(verb)
cutting
?dividing something with a blade or tool
chopping
?food preparation
,mowing
?cutting grass
📝 In Action
Estoy cortando las verduras para la cena.
A1I am cutting the vegetables for dinner.
Él está cortando el césped ahora mismo.
A2He is mowing the lawn right now.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'ando' for ongoing actions
In Spanish, adding 'ando' to verbs ending in 'ar' is like adding '-ing' in English. It shows that the action is happening right now when paired with the verb 'estar'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the helper verb
Mistake: "Yo cortando el papel."
Correction: Yo estoy cortando el papel. You almost always need the verb 'estar' (to be) before 'cortando' to make a complete sentence.
⭐ Usage Tips
Phone calls
If a call is failing, use 'se está cortando' to tell the other person 'you are breaking up' or 'the call is cutting out'.
Cortando: A signal breaking up during a call.
cortando(verb)
breaking up
?a phone signal or digital connection failing
interrupting
?stopping a conversation or flow
📝 In Action
Te oigo mal, se está cortando la comunicación.
B1I can't hear you well, the connection is breaking up.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive use
Notice that when a signal 'breaks up', we use 'se' (se está cortando). This indicates the action is happening to the signal itself.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cortando
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'I am cutting the cake' right now?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'cortando' change if a woman is speaking?
No. Words ending in '-ando' (gerunds) never change their ending based on gender or number. They always stay the same.
Can I use 'cortando' to mean 'taking a shortcut'?
Yes! You can say 'estamos cortando camino' to mean 'we are taking a shortcut' (literally 'cutting the path').