nadando
nah-DAHN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Estoy nadando en el mar.
A1I am swimming in the sea.
Ella pasó la tarde nadando.
A2She spent the afternoon swimming.
Llegó a la isla nadando.
B1He reached the island by swimming.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-ando' ending
In Spanish, adding '-ando' to the end of a verb is like adding '-ing' in English. It describes an action that is happening right now.
Pairing with 'Estar'
To say 'I am swimming,' you combine a form of 'estar' (to be) with 'nadando.' For example: 'Estoy nadando.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it as a noun
Mistake: "Me gusta nadando."
Correction: Say 'Me gusta nadar.' In Spanish, if you want to say 'I like swimming,' you must use the base form (the infinitive) of the verb, not the -ing form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing movement
Use 'nadando' after verbs of movement to show how someone traveled, like 'Llegó nadando' (He arrived swimming).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: nadando
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'We are swimming'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'nadar' and 'nadando'?
'Nadar' is the base form (to swim), while 'nadando' is the active form (swimming) used for things happening right now.
Does 'nadando' ever change its ending?
No, unlike adjectives, the '-ando' form stays the same regardless of who is doing the action or how many people there are.