leyendo
leh-YEN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermano está leyendo un cómic en el sofá.
A1My brother is reading a comic book on the sofa.
Ella pasó toda la mañana leyendo los informes.
A2She spent the whole morning reading the reports.
Siempre aprendes más leyendo el texto original.
B1You always learn more by reading the original text.
Llevamos tres horas leyendo el mismo capítulo sin parar.
B2We have been reading the same chapter for three hours without stopping.
💡 Grammar Points
The Continuous Action
Use 'leyendo' right after a form of 'estar' (like 'estoy' or 'estás') to show an action is happening in the moment, similar to the '-ing' form in English.
The 'Y' Rule (Irregular Spelling)
The base verb 'leer' (le-er) ends in a vowel, and the normal ending for -er verbs is -iendo. Spanish avoids having three vowels in a row (le-iendo), so the 'i' changes to a 'y' to make the pronunciation smoother: 'leyendo'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'y'
Mistake: "Estoy leiendo."
Correction: Estoy leyendo. Remember that the 'i' becomes a 'y' when the verb root ends in a vowel (like 'leer', 'creer', or 'oír').
⭐ Usage Tips
Describe the How
You can use 'leyendo' without 'estar' to explain how you did something: 'Aprendí mucho leyendo' (I learned a lot by reading).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: leyendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'leyendo' to describe an action happening right now?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'leyendo' the same as 'leer'?
'Leer' is the base form (the infinitive, meaning 'to read'). 'Leyendo' is the action form (the gerund, meaning 'reading'). You use 'leyendo' when the action is ongoing or when you are describing how something is done.
Can I use 'ser' instead of 'estar' with 'leyendo'?
No. When describing an action that is currently in progress ('I am reading'), you must always use 'estar'. 'Ser' describes permanent characteristics or identity.