perdiendo
per-dyén-do
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
El equipo local está perdiendo 3 a 1.
A1The home team is losing 3 to 1.
¿Estás perdiendo peso con la nueva dieta?
A2Are you losing weight with the new diet?
Siento que estoy perdiendo mi tiempo en esta reunión.
B1I feel like I am wasting my time in this meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
The Progressive Action
In Spanish, we use 'estar' (to be) + 'perdiendo' to show that the action of losing is happening right now: 'Estoy perdiendo' (I am losing).
Gerunds Stay the Same
Unlike adjectives, the gerund 'perdiendo' always stays the same regardless of who is doing the losing (male, female, plural, singular). 'Ella está perdiendo,' 'Ellos están perdiendo.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Helper Verb
Mistake: "Using 'Yo perdiendo' to mean 'I am losing'."
Correction: The gerund needs a 'helper' verb, usually 'estar'. The correct phrase is 'Yo estoy perdiendo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Process
Use 'perdiendo' only when you want to emphasize that the loss is currently in progress. If the loss already happened, use the past participle 'perdido' ('He perdido mi llave' - I have lost my key).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdiendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'perdiendo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when to use 'perdiendo' versus 'perdido'?
'Perdiendo' (the gerund) is used for actions in progress, usually paired with 'estar' (e.g., 'Está perdiendo la carrera' - He is losing the race). 'Perdido' (the past participle) is used to describe a state or with 'haber' (e.g., 'Ha perdido la carrera' - He has lost the race, or 'Está perdido' - He is lost/missing).
Is 'perdiendo' irregular?
Yes and no. 'Perdiendo' itself follows the standard pattern for -er/-ir verbs (base + iendo). However, the base verb 'perder' is irregular in many forms because the 'e' changes to 'ie' (like 'pierdo') when stressed.