B1 · Intermediate Chapter 9

Describing Habits and Ongoing Actions

4 Total Rules
43 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of describing your daily life, ongoing progress, and habits with native-like precision.

  • Express habits fluently using the verb 'soler'.
  • Describe ongoing actions using 'seguir' and 'llevar'.
  • Transform adjectives into descriptive adverbs effortlessly.
Speak about your life with natural rhythm.

What You'll Learn

Ready to level up your Spanish, friend? In this chapter, you're going to learn how to talk about your habits and actions in progress just like a native speaker. It's time to say goodbye to those repetitive normalmente phrases and get fluent with soler + infinitive. For example, instead of just saying normalmente tomo café (I normally drink coffee), you'll learn to express it more idiomatically as suelo tomar café. It sounds so much more natural! Next, we'll dive into seguir + gerundio, perfect for showing that an action is *still* ongoing. Imagine telling a friend you're still studying for that tough exam – this structure will help you convey it smoothly and naturally. You'll also master how to use llevar + time + gerundio to express how long you've been doing something, without needing prepositions like for. Think about saying "I've been learning Spanish for two years" with native precision. But here's a super exciting part: how to say you're doing something *again* without overusing otra vez. With volver a + infinitive, you can naturally say things like "I'm reading that book again" and sound incredibly authentic. Finally, you'll pick up a highly practical skill: transforming adjectives into adverbs by simply adding -mente to the feminine form, allowing you to add beautiful detail to your descriptions, like quickly or slowly. After completing this chapter, you'll be able to fluently describe your daily routines, explain how long you've been pursuing a hobby or still working on a task, and talk about repeated actions with native flair. Get ready to sound like a true B1 Spanish speaker!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your daily routine without using repetitive frequency adverbs.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Ready to truly elevate your Spanish grammar skills to a B1 level? This chapter is your gateway to sounding more natural and fluent when talking about your daily life, routines, and ongoing activities. We’re moving beyond basic expressions and diving into idiomatic structures that native speakers use all the time. Forget clunky, direct translations; you’re about to unlock a new level of conversational grace. Mastering these patterns is crucial for anyone aiming for B1 Spanish proficiency, allowing you to express yourself with greater precision and authenticity.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to talk about habits with the elegant verb soler + infinitive, which is far more natural than constantly saying "normalmente." You'll also learn to indicate actions that are *still* happening using seguir + gerundio, perfect for those moments when you need to emphasize continuity. Ever wondered how to say you've been doing something for a specific period without awkward prepositions? Llevar + time + gerundio is your answer.
We'll also equip you with volver a + infinitive to effortlessly describe repeating actions, making "again" sound wonderfully native. And to add beautiful detail to your descriptions, you’ll master transforming adjectives into adverbs by simply adding -mente. By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to articulate complex ideas about duration, repetition, and ongoing processes with the ease and confidence of a true B1 Spanish speaker.

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down these essential Spanish grammar B1 structures. First up, for talking about habits, we use soler + infinitive. This verb, soler, means "to usually do" or "to tend to do." It's typically conjugated in the present tense: suelo (I usually), sueles (you usually), suele (he/she/it usually), solemos (we usually), soléis (you all usually), suelen (they usually). For example, Suelo leer antes de dormir (I usually read before sleeping).
To express that an action is *still* ongoing, we use seguir + gerundio. Seguir means "to continue" or "to keep on." Its present tense conjugations are sigo, sigues, sigue, seguimos, seguís, siguen. You then attach the gerund (the "-ing" form) of the main verb. For instance, Sigo estudiando para el examen (I'm still studying for the exam).
When you want to convey how long you've been doing something, the structure llevar + time + gerundio is invaluable. This avoids direct translations of "for" and sounds very natural. You conjugate llevar in the present tense (llevo, llevas, etc.), specify the duration, and then add the gerund. An example: Llevo dos años aprendiendo español (I've been learning Spanish for two years).
For actions you're doing *again*, skip "otra vez" and use volver a + infinitive. Volver means "to return" or "to do again." Its present tense forms are vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven. So, Vuelvo a leer este libro (I'm reading this book again).
Finally, to form adverbs from adjectives, simply take the feminine singular form of the adjective and add -mente. For example, from rápido/rápida (quick), you get rápidamente (quickly). From lento/lenta (slow), you get lentamente (slowly). This allows you to describe actions with detail: Ella habla rápidamente (She speaks quickly).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Normalmente voy al gimnasio. (I normally go to the gym.)
✓ Correct: Suelo ir al gimnasio. (I usually go to the gym.)
*Explanation:* While "normalmente" is not incorrect, "soler + infinitive" is a more idiomatic and natural way for B1 Spanish speakers to express habits or usual actions. It adds a touch of native fluency.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Estoy estudiando por dos horas. (I am studying for two hours.)
✓ Correct: Llevo dos horas estudiando. (I've been studying for two hours.)
*Explanation:* When expressing how long an action has been ongoing, llevar + time + gerundio is the correct and most natural structure in Spanish. Using "por" in this context is a common anglicism.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Él conduce rápidomente. (He drives quickly.)
✓ Correct: Él conduce rápidamente. (He drives quickly.)
*Explanation:* Adverbs ending in -mente are formed by taking the *feminine singular* form of the adjective and adding -mente. "Rápido" is masculine; the feminine is "rápida," hence "rápidamente."

Real Conversations

A

A

¿Qué sueles hacer los fines de semana? (What do you usually do on weekends?)
B

B

Suelo ir de excursión y sigo practicando mi español. (I usually go hiking and I'm still practicing my Spanish.)
A

A

¡Qué bien! ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aprendiendo español? (That's great! How long have you been learning Spanish?)
B

B

Llevo tres años aprendiéndolo, y cada día vuelvo a descubrir algo nuevo. (I've been learning it for three years, and every day I discover something new again.)
A

A

Tienes que hablar más lentamente para que te entienda bien. (You have to speak more slowly so I understand you well.)
B

B

¡Lo siento! Es que a veces hablo rápidamente sin darme cuenta. (I'm sorry! It's just that sometimes I speak quickly without realizing it.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I use *continuar + gerundio* instead of *seguir + gerundio*?

Yes, continuar + gerundio (e.g., continúo estudiando) is also perfectly valid and means the same thing. Both are common in Spanish grammar.

Q

Is *soler* only used in the present tense?

While most commonly used in the present to describe current habits, soler can also be used in the imperfect tense (e.g., solía ir) to talk about past habits.

Q

What's the difference between *volver a + infinitive* and *hacer algo otra vez*?

Both mean "to do something again," but volver a + infinitive sounds much more natural and idiomatic in everyday Spanish. Otra vez is acceptable but can sometimes feel a bit more emphatic or repetitive.

Q

How do I know if an adjective is masculine or feminine before adding -mente?

Most adjectives ending in -o in the masculine form change to -a in the feminine (e.g., *rápido* -> *rápida*). Adjectives ending in -e or a consonant usually have the same form for both masculine and feminine (e.g., *fácil* -> *fácilmente*, *feliz* -> *felizmente*).

Cultural Context

These structures are not just grammatical rules; they are integral to how native Spanish speakers express themselves fluidly. Using soler instead of "normalmente" instantly makes your speech sound more authentic and less like a direct translation. Similarly, llevar + time + gerundio is the standard way to talk about ongoing duration, and its absence often indicates a learner. Mastering volver a + infinitive and the -mente adverbs allows for nuanced and natural descriptions, moving beyond basic sentence construction. Integrating these patterns into your daily practice will significantly enhance your B1 Spanish conversational ability and help you connect more effectively in Spanish-speaking environments.

Key Examples (8)

1

Suelo ver series en Netflix antes de dormir.

I usually watch series on Netflix before sleeping.

Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)
2

Mi perro suele ladrar cuando llega el repartidor de Amazon.

My dog usually barks when the Amazon delivery guy arrives.

Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)
3

Sigo esperando el paquete de Amazon.

I'm still waiting for the Amazon package.

Still Doing: 'Seguir + Gerund'
4

¿Sigues viendo esa serie en Netflix?

Are you still watching that series on Netflix?

Still Doing: 'Seguir + Gerund'
5

Llevo dos años viviendo en este apartamento.

I have been living in this apartment for two years.

How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)
6

Llevas media hora mirando el menú, ¡decídete!

You've been looking at the menu for half an hour, decide already!

How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)
7

Él llegó `rápidamente` al aeropuerto para no perder su vuelo.

He arrived quickly at the airport so as not to miss his flight.

Spanish Adverbs: Using '-mente' (quickly, slowly)
8

`Obviamente`, no voy a ir a esa fiesta si él está allí.

Obviously, I'm not going to that party if he's there.

Spanish Adverbs: Using '-mente' (quickly, slowly)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Stem Change

Remember the 'o' to 'ue' change in the stem. It's 'suelo', not 'solo'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)
💡

Avoid Redundancy

Don't say 'Todavía sigo'. 'Sigo' already means 'still'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Still Doing: 'Seguir + Gerund'
💡

Focus on the time

Remember that 'llevar' is all about the time. If you don't know the time, you can't use this construction.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)
💡

Accent Rule

If the adjective has an accent, keep it! It's the easiest way to be correct.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Adverbs: Using '-mente' (quickly, slowly)

Key Vocabulary (5)

soler to be in the habit of seguir to continue/still llevar to carry/to have spent time rápidamente quickly diariamente daily

Real-World Preview

coffee

Catching up with a friend

Review Summary

  • soler (pres) + infinitive
  • seguir (pres) + gerundio
  • llevar (pres) + time + gerundio
  • adj (fem) + mente

Common Mistakes

While 'normalmente' is not wrong, 'soler' is the idiomatic way to express habits.

Wrong: Normalmente voy al cine.
Correct: Suelo ir al cine.

Never use 'para' with 'llevar'. Always use the gerund (-ando/-iendo) directly.

Wrong: Llevo tres horas para estudiar.
Correct: Llevo tres horas estudiando.

Use the feminine adjective form before adding -mente. Rápida + mente = Rápidamente.

Wrong: Rápidoamente.
Correct: Rápidamente.

Next Steps

You are making incredible progress! Keep practicing these structures in your daily conversations, and you'll be fluent before you know it.

Write a paragraph about your morning routine using all new structures.

Continue to: Mastering Pronouns and Possession

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct form.

Ellos ___ viajar en verano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: suelen
The correct form for 'Ellos' is 'suelen'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)

Complete the sentence.

Llevo dos horas ___ (estudiar).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: estudiando
The gerund is required after the time.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Llevo dos horas estudiando.
This is the standard construction.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Llevo dos años vivo en España.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Llevo dos años viviendo en España.
Need the gerund.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: How Long You've Been Doing Something (Llevar + Gerund)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of soler.

Yo ___ comer a las dos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: suelo
The correct form for 'Yo' is 'suelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)

Fill in the blank.

Ella corre ___ (rápido).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: rápidamente
Use the feminine + mente.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Adverbs: Using '-mente' (quickly, slowly)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of seguir + gerund.

Yo __________ (estudiar) español.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Sigo + gerund is the correct structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Still Doing: 'Seguir + Gerund'

Fill in the blank.

No ___ salir tarde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: suelo
The correct form for 'Yo' is 'suelo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)

Choose the correct form.

___, no puedo ir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lamentablemente
Viewpoint adverb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Adverbs: Using '-mente' (quickly, slowly)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Suelo ir al cine.
Soler + infinitive is the correct structure.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Talking about Habits: The Verb Soler (soler + infinitive)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

No, 'soler' is a defective verb and only exists in the present and imperfect tenses.
No, that is 'estar solo'. 'Suelo' is the first-person singular of 'soler'.
Yes, as long as it makes sense to continue that action.
Yes, they are interchangeable.
No, 'llevar' + gerund is strictly for ongoing actions in the present.
They are similar in meaning but use different structures. 'Llevar' uses the gerund, 'hace' uses a conjugated verb.
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