seguir
/seh-GEER/
to follow
The primary meaning of seguir is 'to follow' someone or something physically.
seguir(Verb)
to follow
?physically going after someone or something
to trail
?following behind
,to go after
?pursuing someone
📝 In Action
El detective siguió al sospechoso por toda la ciudad.
A2The detective followed the suspect all over the city.
¡Sigue ese coche!
A2Follow that car!
Camina despacio, no te puedo seguir.
B1Walk slowly, I can't follow you.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'e' to 'i' Change
Notice how the 'e' in 'seguir' changes to an 'i' for most 'now' forms (like 'yo sigo', 'tú sigues'). This happens with many Spanish verbs, but the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms usually keep the original 'e'.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Movement
This is the most direct meaning of 'seguir'. Think of a duckling following its mother or following a car in traffic.
Seguir is commonly used to mean 'to continue' or 'to keep doing' an action.
seguir(Verb)
to continue
?an action or state carries on
,to keep doing
?used with another action
to carry on
?continuing with something
,to go on
?continuing an event or speech
📝 In Action
Si sigues trabajando así, tendrás mucho éxito.
A2If you keep working like this, you'll be very successful.
La fiesta siguió hasta las cinco de la mañana.
B1The party continued until five in the morning.
Perdón por la interrupción, por favor, sigue.
A2Sorry for the interruption, please, continue.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Keep Doing' Formula
A super useful pattern is 'seguir + [verb in -ando/-iendo form]'. It's the most natural way to say you 'keep doing' something. For example, 'Sigo pensando en ello' means 'I keep thinking about it'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Verb Form
Mistake: "Sigo a estudiar mucho."
Correction: Sigo estudiando mucho. After 'seguir' (when it means 'to keep doing'), you need the '-ando' or '-iendo' form of the next verb, not its basic form.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Seguir' vs. 'Continuar'
Both mean 'to continue,' but 'seguir' is often more common and natural in everyday chat. 'Continuar' can sound a little more formal.
You use seguir when you 'follow' non-physical things, such as instructions, rules, or advice.
seguir(Verb)
to follow
?instructions, advice, a plan
to obey
?rules, orders
,to take
?a class, a course
,to pursue
?a career path
📝 In Action
Para montar el mueble, tienes que seguir las instrucciones.
B1To assemble the furniture, you have to follow the instructions.
Siempre sigo los consejos de mi madre.
B1I always follow my mother's advice.
Ella quiere seguir una carrera en medicina.
B2She wants to pursue a career in medicine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Following Ideas, Not Just People
This use of 'seguir' is about non-physical things. You can 'follow' a recipe, a political party, a dream, or a course of study.
Seguir can also mean 'to still be' or 'to remain' in a certain state or condition.
seguir(Verb)
to still be
?a state or condition continues
to remain
?staying in a certain way
📝 In Action
¿Sigues enojado conmigo?
B1Are you still mad at me?
Sigo sin entender el problema.
B2I still don't understand the problem.
A pesar del tratamiento, el paciente sigue enfermo.
B1Despite the treatment, the patient is still sick.
💡 Grammar Points
The Spanish Way to Say 'Still'
While 'todavía' also means 'still', using 'seguir' is a very common and natural way to say that a situation or feeling hasn't changed. It emphasizes the continuation of the state.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'sin'
Mistake: "Sigo no entiendo."
Correction: Sigo sin entender. When you 'still don't' do something, the pattern is 'seguir sin + [basic verb form]'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: seguir
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'I keep trying to learn Spanish'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'seguir' and 'continuar'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable when they mean 'to continue'. However, 'seguir' is generally more common in everyday conversation. 'Continuar' can sound a bit more formal. Also, only 'seguir' has the other meanings like 'to follow someone' or 'to still be'.
Why does 'yo sigo' have an 'i' but 'nosotros seguimos' has an 'e'?
'Seguir' is a 'stem-changing' verb. For many of these verbs, the vowel change happens for all forms *except* 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you all, in Spain). Think of it like a boot shape on the conjugation chart – the forms inside the 'boot' change, and the two outside ('nosotros', 'vosotros') stay the same.