dándole
/DAHN-doh-leh/
giving it to him/her/you (formal)
This image shows the literal meaning: the act of 'giving it' to someone.
dándole(Verbal Phrase)
giving it to him/her/you (formal)
?Literal meaning: gerund 'dando' + pronoun 'le'
handing it over to him/her
?Physical transfer
📝 In Action
Ella estaba dándole la comida al perro cuando llegué.
A2She was giving the food to the dog when I arrived.
El profesor sigue dándole consejos a los estudiantes.
B1The professor keeps giving advice to the students.
Están dándole el premio al ganador en este momento.
A2They are giving the award to the winner right now.
💡 Grammar Points
Attaching Pronouns
When you use the '-ing' form (the gerund), you must attach the object pronouns directly to the end of the verb, forming one word, like dándole.
Accent Mark Rule
When attaching one or more pronouns to the gerund, you usually need to add an accent mark to the third vowel from the end (the 'a' in dando) to keep the original stress.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Separating the Pronoun
Mistake: "Está dando le el libro."
Correction: Está dándole el libro. The pronoun 'le' must be attached to the gerund 'dando' when following a form of 'estar'.
When someone is 'dándole,' they are working hard and applying great effort.
dándole(Verbal Phrase)
working hard
?Applying great effort
,going for it
?Doing something with speed or determination
hitting it
?Referring to an object like a drum, ball, or gas pedal
,driving fast
?Speeding up the car
📝 In Action
¡Vamos, dale dándole! Solo quedan cinco minutos.
B1Come on, go for it! There are only five minutes left.
El DJ estaba dándole a la música toda la noche.
B2The DJ was really pumping the music all night.
El motor ya está calentando, ¡sigue dándole!
B1The engine is already warming up, keep hitting it (keep going/keep driving hard)!
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Le' is Empty
In this informal usage, the pronoun 'le' often doesn't refer to a specific person or thing; it just adds emphasis, making the action of 'dando' feel more intense or continuous.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dándole
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'dándole' in its idiomatic sense (meaning intensity or effort)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'dándole' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary because when you attach pronouns to the gerund ('dando'), the stress naturally shifts to the end. The accent mark forces the stress back onto the vowel where it belongs ('dán-do-le') to maintain the correct pronunciation of the base gerund.
Can I separate 'dándole' into 'le dando'?
No. When the gerund follows the verb 'estar' (as in 'está dándole'), you have the choice to attach the pronoun ('dándole') or place it before 'estar' ('le está dando'). You cannot place the pronoun after 'estar' but before the gerund.