A person sitting at a large wooden desk covered in open books and loose papers. The person is holding a large magnifying glass and intently examining a single document, illustrating the ongoing action of seeking information.

investigando

in-ves-ti-GAN-do

Verbal Form (Gerund)B1regular ar

investigating?The ongoing action of seeking information

Also:researching?Academic or scientific inquiry,looking into?Informal term for investigating

Quick Reference

infinitiveinvestigar

gerundinvestigando

past Participleinvestigado

📝 In Action

La policía está investigando el caso con mucha cautela.

The police are investigating the case very cautiously.

Pasa el día investigando nuevas formas de energía limpia.

She spends the day researching new forms of clean energy.

Mejoró su técnica investigando a los maestros del pasado.

He improved his technique by researching the masters of the past.

Word Connections

Synonyms

averiguando (finding out)
buscando (searching)

Common Collocations

estar investigando – to be investigating (currently)
seguir investigando – to keep investigating

💡 Grammar Points

The Ongoing Action Form

This form, ending in '-ando' for 'ar' verbs, tells you that an action is happening right now, or was happening at a specific time. We usually use it after the verb 'estar' (to be) to form the continuous tense.

How to do something

You can use 'investigando' to explain how someone achieved something: 'Ganó el premio investigando sin descanso' (She won the prize by researching tirelessly).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it as an Adjective

Mistake: "El investigando policía."

Correction: The gerund ('investigando') cannot be used as an adjective describing a noun in Spanish. You must use a phrase: 'El policía que investiga' (The police officer who investigates).

⭐ Usage Tips

Attach the Pronoun!

When using pronouns (like 'me,' 'te,' 'lo'), you can attach them directly to the end of 'investigando' if it's not preceded by 'estar.' Example: 'Están investigándolo' OR 'Lo están investigando' (They are investigating it).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: investigando

Question 1 of 1

In the sentence 'Ella está investigando el origen,' what does 'investigando' tell us?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

investigar(to investigate) - verb

investigación(investigation / research) - noun

investigador(investigator / researcher) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'investigando' the same as 'investigación'?

No. 'Investigando' is the action word used to show something is happening *now* (like 'investigating'). 'Investigación' is the noun, referring to the whole process or the field of study (like 'the investigation' or 'research').

How do I use 'investigando' to express 'by investigating'?

You simply use 'investigando' without a preposition. For example: 'Aprendió investigando' (She learned by investigating). Unlike English, you don't need the word 'by' (por or a).