sonriendo
sohn-ree-EHN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo está sonriendo en la foto.
A1My grandfather is smiling in the photo.
Llegó a la oficina sonriendo, lo que es raro.
B1He arrived at the office smiling, which is strange.
Pasó por mi mesa sonriendo y me guiñó un ojo.
A2She walked past my desk smiling and winked at me.
💡 Grammar Points
Continuous Actions
This form tells you an action is happening right now, usually combined with the verb 'estar' (to be): 'Ella está sonriendo' (She is smiling).
Adverbial Use
You can use 'sonriendo' alone to explain HOW someone did something: 'Caminó sonriendo' (He walked while smiling).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Irregular Spelling
Mistake: "sonreiendo"
Correction: sonriendo. The base verb 'sonreír' is irregular, so the 'e' in the stem changes to an 'i' before adding '-ndo'. This is a common pattern for verbs like 'pedir' (pidiendo) and 'decir' (diciendo).
⭐ Usage Tips
Smile vs. Laugh
Remember, 'sonriendo' refers to a smile (a quiet expression). If you want to say 'laughing,' you must use 'riendo' (from the verb 'reír').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sonriendo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'sonriendo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sonriendo' a verb?
It is a special form of the verb 'sonreír' called the gerund. It acts like the '-ing' form in English, showing that an action is currently happening or describing how another action took place.
Why is it spelled 'sonriendo' and not 'sonreiendo'?
Because the base verb 'sonreír' belongs to a group of irregular -ir verbs where the vowel 'e' in the stem changes to an 'i' when forming the gerund. This is the same pattern you see in 'pedir' (pidiendo) and 'decir' (diciendo).