Still Doing: 'Seguir + Gerund'
seguir + gerundio to express ongoing actions and sound like a natural, persistent Spanish speaker.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'seguir' + gerund to express that an action is still happening or continuing despite time passing.
- Conjugate 'seguir' for the subject: 'Sigo estudiando' (I am still studying).
- Add the gerund (-ando/-iendo) immediately after: 'Seguimos trabajando' (We are still working).
- Use it for actions that persist: '¿Sigues viviendo allí?' (Are you still living there?).
Overview
When you want to express an action that began in the past and continues uninterrupted into the present, or an action that you 'keep on doing,' Spanish employs the verbal periphrasis seguir + gerundio. This structure is fundamental for B1-level learners because it captures the essence of continuity, a common aspect of daily communication. Unlike simple progressive constructions like estar + gerundio (I am eating), seguir + gerundio adds the crucial nuance of persistence or ongoingness (I am still eating).
This grammatical pattern exists in Spanish to highlight the duration and uninterrupted nature of an action. It shifts the focus from the action itself to its continuous temporal span. Think of it as conveying that a situation or activity sigue en marcha (remains in progress), emphasizing that a previous state has not ceased.
Seguir + gerundio is more than just a direct translation of English phrases like "still doing" or "keep on doing." It represents a specific linguistic tool to express aspect — how an action unfolds over time. Mastering it allows you to articulate that an activity has maintained its course, whether it's a routine, a state, or an undesirable habit.
Conjugation Table
| Person | Conjugation | Example | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| :------------- | :------------ | :-------------------------------------- | ||
| yo | sigo |
Yo sigo estudiando. |
||
| tú | sigues |
Tú sigues leyendo. |
||
| usted/él/ella | sigue |
Ella sigue trabajando. |
||
| nosotros/as | seguimos |
Nosotros seguimos aprendiendo. |
||
| vosotros/as | seguís |
Vosotros seguís esperando. |
||
| ustedes/ellos/ellas | siguen |
Ellos siguen viviendo en Madrid. |
How This Grammar Works
seguir + gerundio construction functions as a verbal periphrasis, meaning it’s a combination of two verbs that together express a single verbal idea. Here, seguir acts as the auxiliary verb, carrying the tense, mood, and person conjugation, while the gerundio (-ando, -iendo) conveys the main action.seguir inherently implies continuation, movement forward, or remaining in a certain state (its literal meaning is "to follow" or "to continue"). When paired with a gerund, it creates a powerful aspectual marker that signifies an action that has not stopped. The gerundio then describes what action is being continued.seguir and the gerundio. The two verbs directly combine: Seguir + Gerundio. For instance, Sigo buscando las llaves means "I'm still looking for the keys," implying the search began earlier and has not concluded.e > i stem change in seguir (e.g., seguir -> sigo, sigues, sigue, siguen) is a consistent feature in the present tense that must be applied correctly to avoid sounding unnatural. This periphrasis emphasizes that the action is persistente (persistent) and sin interrupción (without interruption).Sigue lloviendo a cántaros (It's still raining cats and dogs). Here, sigue tells us the action (llover) is ongoing, and lloviendo specifies the action. The emphasis is on the continuous nature of the rain from an earlier point in time.Formation Pattern
seguir + gerundio involves three main steps: conjugating seguir, forming the gerund of the main verb, and correctly placing any pronouns.
seguir in the appropriate tense and person.
yo, tú, usted/él/ella, and ustedes/ellos/ellas. For example, yo sigo (I continue), tú sigues (you continue), ella sigue (she continues).
seguir is regular: seguía, seguías, seguía, seguíamos, seguíais, seguían.
Mi hermano sigue viviendo en el extranjero. (My brother is still living abroad.)
gerundio of the main action verb.
-ar with -ando (e.g., hablar > hablando, trabajar > trabajando).
-er/-ir with -iendo (e.g., comer > comiendo, vivir > viviendo).
-er or -ir ending take -yendo (e.g., leer > leyendo, oír > oyendo, construir > construyendo).
e > i and o > u changes in the present tense) also change their stem vowel in the gerund form (e.g., pedir > pidiendo, sentir > sintiendo, dormir > durmiendo, morir > muriendo).
Aunque hace frío, seguimos saliendo a correr. (Even though it's cold, we are still going out for a run.)
seguir: This is generally the more common and often preferred option in spoken Spanish. Example: Me sigue molestando su actitud. (His attitude is still bothering me.)
gerundio: When attaching pronouns to the gerund, you must add an accent mark to maintain the original stress of the gerund. This accent typically falls on the vowel of the -a- in -ando or the -e- in -iendo. Example: Sigo buscándolas. (I'm still looking for them [las llaves]).
¿Todavía lo sigues esperando? (Are you still waiting for him/it?) or ¿Todavía sigues esperándolo? (Both are correct).
When To Use It
Seguir + gerundio is employed in various contexts where the continuation or persistence of an action is emphasized.- Uninterrupted Actions or States: To indicate that an action, activity, or condition began previously and has continued without cessation up to the present moment.
Después de diez años, mis abuelos siguen bailando tango.(After ten years, my grandparents are still dancing tango.)Aunque es tarde, el equipo sigue trabajando en el proyecto.(Even though it's late, the team is still working on the project.)Los niños siguen jugando en el parque a pesar del frío.(The children are still playing in the park despite the cold.)
- Habitual or Repeated Actions: When describing a recurring action that a person "keeps on doing," often implying a habit or routine that persists.
Mi vecino sigue poniendo la música muy alta por las noches.(My neighbor keeps on playing loud music at night.)Siempre sigue llegando tarde a las reuniones, es increíble.(He always keeps on arriving late to meetings, it's incredible.)
- Enquiring about Continuation: To ask if someone is still doing something or if a situation remains unchanged.
¿Sigues estudiando la misma carrera?(Are you still studying the same degree?)¿Todavía sigues viviendo en tu antiguo apartamento?(Are you still living in your old apartment?)
- Expressing Annoyance or Unwanted Persistence: Often used to highlight an action that continues despite a desire for it to stop, or an action that is simply bothersome.
Ese perro sigue ladrando sin parar.(That dog keeps on barking incessantly.)Mi ex me sigue enviando mensajes, no sé qué hacer.(My ex keeps sending me messages, I don't know what to do.)
- Describing a Current, Ongoing Endeavor: In more formal or professional contexts, it can convey continued involvement or development.
La empresa sigue innovando en el campo de la tecnología.(The company continues innovating in the field of technology.)Sigo formándome en nuevas herramientas digitales para mi trabajo.(I am continuing to train in new digital tools for my job.)
When Not To Use It
seguir + gerundio is versatile, it is inappropriate for certain types of actions or contexts. Misusing it can lead to grammatically awkward or nonsensical sentences.- Instantaneous Actions: Do not use this construction with verbs that describe actions completed in an instant, as they cannot logically be "continued" in the same manner. Verbs like
morir(to die),explotar(to explode),llegar(to arrive, in the sense of the moment of arrival), orterminar(to finish, at the point of completion) are poor fits. - Incorrect:
Sigo muriendo.(I am still dying – unless used metaphorically in extreme pain). - Correct:
Estoy muriéndome de risa.(I'm dying of laughter – hereestar + gerundis used for an ongoing, intense state, not literal death continuation).
- Actions with Inherent Endpoints: If an action implies a natural conclusion and the focus is solely on the present moment,
estar + gerundiois generally more suitable.Seguir + gerundioemphasizes the process of continuation, not just the action's current state. - Incorrect:
Sigo finalizando el informe.(I am still finalizing the report – while grammatically possible,Estoy finalizandois more common if the focus is on the current task, not its extended duration). - Correct:
Estoy finalizando el informe.(I am finalizing the report.)
- When the Action Has Definitely Stopped: If an action has concluded, even recently,
seguir + gerundiois no longer applicable. Instead, use past tenses or phrases likeya no(no longer). - Incorrect:
Sigo trabajando, pero acabo de terminar.(I'm still working, but I just finished.) - Correct:
Ya no sigo trabajando en ese proyecto.(I'm no longer working on that project.)
- When
seguirmeans "to follow" literally: Rememberseguirhas other meanings. When it means to literally follow someone or something, it is not used with a gerund in this periphrastic sense. - Incorrect:
Sigo caminando detrás de ti.(I am still walking behind you – this is clumsy. Better:Sigo tu caminoorContinúo caminando detrás de tior simplyCamino detrás de tiifseguiris simply "to follow").
Common Mistakes
seguir + gerundio. Recognizing these patterns can help you avoid them.- Over-reliance on
todavía+estar + gerundio: Many learners instinctively translate "still doing" astodavía estoy haciendo. While grammatically correct in some contexts,seguir + gerundiois often the more natural and idiomatic choice when emphasizing the continuous nature of an action. - Incorrect (less natural):
Todavía estoy viviendo en casa de mis padres. - Correct (more natural):
Sigo viviendo en casa de mis padres.(I'm still living at my parents' house.) - The difference:
todavía estoysignals that something is happening now that wasn't expected to, whileseguirimplies a smooth continuation from before.
- Forgetting the
e > istem change inseguir: This is a very common phonetic error. Using forms likesego,seguen, orsegueswill immediately mark you as a non-native speaker. Consistent practice with its conjugation is essential. - Incorrect:
Yo sego buscando una solución. - Correct:
Yo sigo buscando una solución.(I'm still looking for a solution.)
- Using the infinitive instead of the gerund: The structure explicitly requires the
gerundio. Using the infinitive (-ar,-er,-ir) fundamentally changes the meaning or renders the phrase ungrammatical. - Incorrect:
Ellos siguen trabajar en el informe. - Correct:
Ellos siguen trabajando en el informe.(They are still working on the report.)
- Incorrect pronoun placement: Placing object pronouns between
seguirand thegerundiois ungrammatical. Remember, pronouns either precede the conjugated verb or are attached to the gerund. - Incorrect:
Sigo te llamando cada día. - Correct:
Te sigo llamando cada día.ORSigo llamándote cada día.(I keep calling you every day.)
- Omitting the accent mark when attaching pronouns to the gerund: Failure to add the accent mark when pronouns are suffixed to the gerund can result in incorrect pronunciation and confusion about syllable stress.
- Incorrect:
Sigo esperandola.(Stress on the second 'a' ofesperando) - Correct:
Sigo esperándola.(Stress on the first 'a' ofesperando)Espero que siga esperándonos.(I hope she keeps waiting for us.)
Memory Trick
To remember seguir + gerundio, focus on the i in seguir. Think of it as a continuous line or a persistent thread that sigue (continues) from the past into the present. The e > i stem change in seguir for most present tense forms can be linked to this idea of i for ir (to go, implying ongoing motion) or i for ininterrumpido (uninterrupted). When you see seguir, immediately associate it with "still doing" or "keeping on doing" — that continuous i sound reinforces the idea of persistence.
Real Conversations
Seguir + gerundio is ubiquitous in everyday Spanish, appearing across various registers from casual chats to more formal discussions. It sounds completely natural and is a hallmark of fluent speech.
- Casual Texting/Messaging:
- Amigo 1: ¿Qué haces? ¿Sigues estudiando? (What are you doing? Are you still studying?)
- Amigo 2: Sí, sigo intentando entender este tema. ¡Es muy difícil! (Yes, I'm still trying to understand this topic. It's very difficult!)
- Workplace Dialogue:
- Colega 1: ¿Cómo va el informe? ¿Sigues con los datos de ventas? (How's the report going? Are you still with the sales data?)
- Colega 2: Sí, sigo analizándolos, me falta poco. (Yes, I'm still analyzing them, I don't have much left.)
- Family Conversation (Latin America):
- Hija: Mamá, ¿todavía sigue lloviendo? (Mom, is it still raining?)
- Madre: Sí mi amor, sigue lloviendo fuerte, no vas a poder salir todavía. (Yes, my love, it's still raining heavily, you won't be able to go out yet.)
- Social Media Comment (Spain):
- Usuario A: ¡Tu perro es adorable! ¿Sigue haciendo esas caras graciosas? (Your dog is adorable! Is he still making those funny faces?)
- Usuario B: ¡Claro! Sigue siendo el rey de las muecas. 😊 (Of course! He's still the king of funny faces.)
- Complaining about a persistent issue:
- Vecino A: ¡No puedo creerlo! ¿Tu vecino sigue haciendo ruido por la noche? (I can't believe it! Is your neighbor still making noise at night?)
- Vecino B: Lamentablemente sí, sigue poniendo música hasta las tantas. (Unfortunately yes, he keeps on playing music until late hours.)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
seguir + gerundio is enhanced by distinguishing it from other Spanish structures that also describe ongoing actions or habits.Seguir + Gerundiovs.Estar + Gerundio:Estar + gerundio(e.g.,Estoy comiendo) describes an action happening at the moment of speaking or around it, focusing on the simple progressive aspect. It doesn't inherently imply prior duration or continuity from a past point.Seguir + gerundio(e.g.,Sigo comiendo) specifically emphasizes that an action began in the past and is still ongoing. The crucial element is the sense of persistence or uninterrupted continuation.
Estar + Gerundio | Seguir + Gerundio |Conjugation of 'Seguir' (Present Indicative)
| Subject | Conjugation | Gerund Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Yo
|
sigo
|
sigo estudiando
|
|
Tú
|
sigues
|
sigues estudiando
|
|
Él/Ella/Ud.
|
sigue
|
sigue estudiando
|
|
Nosotros
|
seguimos
|
seguimos estudiando
|
|
Vosotros
|
seguís
|
seguís estudiando
|
|
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
|
siguen
|
siguen estudiando
|
Meanings
This construction indicates that an action, which began in the past, is continuing into the present moment.
Persistence
Continuing an action despite expectations or time.
“Sigo esperando el autobús.”
“Ella sigue leyendo el libro.”
Interrogative
Checking if an action is still ongoing.
“¿Sigues trabajando aquí?”
“¿Siguen viviendo en Madrid?”
Negative Persistence
Using 'no seguir' to indicate an action has stopped.
“Ya no sigo fumando.”
“No sigo estudiando medicina.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Seguir + Gerund
|
Sigo trabajando.
|
|
Negative
|
No + Seguir + Gerund
|
No sigo trabajando.
|
|
Question
|
¿Seguir + Gerund?
|
¿Sigues trabajando?
|
|
Reflexive
|
Seguir + Gerund + Reflexive
|
Sigo duchándome.
|
|
Object Pronoun
|
Seguir + Object + Gerund
|
Sigo buscándolo.
|
|
Irregular
|
Seguir + Irregular Gerund
|
Sigo leyendo.
|
Formality Spectrum
Continúo trabajando en el informe. (Professional/Work)
Sigo trabajando en el informe. (Professional/Work)
Sigo con el informe. (Professional/Work)
Sigo dándole al informe. (Professional/Work)
The Seguir Concept
Meaning
- Continuity Ongoing action
Usage
- Persistence Not stopping
Examples by Level
Sigo comiendo.
I am still eating.
Sigo estudiando.
I am still studying.
Sigo trabajando.
I am still working.
Sigo durmiendo.
I am still sleeping.
¿Sigues viviendo aquí?
Are you still living here?
Ella sigue hablando.
She is still talking.
No sigo buscando.
I am not still looking.
¿Siguen esperando?
Are you all still waiting?
Sigo pensando en lo que dijiste.
I am still thinking about what you said.
Aunque es tarde, sigo trabajando.
Although it is late, I am still working.
¿Sigues sintiéndote mal?
Are you still feeling bad?
Siguen intentando ganar el partido.
They are still trying to win the game.
A pesar de los problemas, sigo creyendo en el proyecto.
Despite the problems, I am still believing in the project.
Sigo sin entender por qué se fue.
I still don't understand why he left.
¿Sigues manteniendo tu postura?
Are you still maintaining your position?
Sigo esperando que me llame.
I am still waiting for him to call me.
Sigo considerando todas las opciones disponibles.
I am still considering all available options.
El gobierno sigue ignorando las protestas.
The government is still ignoring the protests.
Sigo encontrando errores en el informe.
I am still finding errors in the report.
Sigo sin ver la lógica en su argumento.
I still don't see the logic in his argument.
Sigo sosteniendo que la medida es ineficaz.
I continue to maintain that the measure is ineffective.
Sigo maravillándome ante tal belleza.
I continue to marvel at such beauty.
Sigo sin vislumbrar una solución clara.
I still cannot glimpse a clear solution.
Sigo abogando por un cambio radical.
I am still advocating for a radical change.
Easily Confused
Both use gerunds and describe actions.
They are synonyms.
Both express duration.
Common Mistakes
Estoy todavía estudiando
Sigo estudiando
Sigo estudio
Sigo estudiando
Sego estudiando
Sigo estudiando
Sigo a estudiar
Sigo estudiando
¿Sigues tú vives aquí?
¿Sigues viviendo aquí?
Sigo no trabajando
No sigo trabajando
Sigo trabajando todavía
Sigo trabajando
Sigo de trabajar
Sigo trabajando
Sigo para estudiar
Sigo estudiando
Sigo habiendo estudiado
Sigo estudiando
Sigo a estar trabajando
Sigo trabajando
Sigo habiendo trabajado
Sigo trabajando
Sigo por trabajar
Sigo trabajando
Sigo el trabajar
Sigo trabajando
Sentence Patterns
Sigo ___ (verb) todos los días.
¿Sigues ___ (verb) en ___ (place)?
Aunque es difícil, sigo ___ (verb).
Sigo sin ___ (infinitive) nada.
Real World Usage
¿Sigues ahí?
Sigo buscando retos.
Sigo pensando.
Sigo aprendiendo cada día.
¿Sigues en el hotel?
Sigo investigando el tema.
Avoid Redundancy
Check the Stem
Use with 'sin'
Regional Variations
Smart Tips
Use 'seguir' + gerund instead of 'todavía' + present tense.
Use 'seguir' with a negative tone.
Use 'seguir' + gerund.
Use '¿Sigues...?'
Pronunciation
Stem change
The 'e' in 'seguir' becomes 'i' in the present tense.
Question
¿Sigues trabajando? ↑
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Seguir is like a 'Seeker' who keeps looking (doing) until they find.
Visual Association
Imagine a person running a marathon. They are tired, but they keep running. The word 'Sigo' is written on their shirt.
Rhyme
Si quieres decir que algo sigue, usa seguir y el gerundio que te intrigue.
Story
Juan started reading a book at 8 AM. It is now 10 PM. His friend asks, '¿Sigues leyendo?'. Juan nods, 'Sí, sigo leyendo'. He is persistent.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, describe 3 things you are still doing today using 'Sigo...'.
Cultural Notes
Commonly used in both professional and casual settings.
Often used with 'todavía' for emphasis, even if redundant.
Used frequently with 'vos' conjugation: '¿Seguís trabajando?'
Derived from the Latin 'sequere', meaning to follow.
Conversation Starters
¿Sigues viviendo en la misma ciudad?
¿Sigues estudiando español?
¿Sigues trabajando en el mismo lugar?
¿Sigues pensando en viajar este año?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Yo __________ (estudiar) español.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Sego trabajando.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I am still waiting.
Answer starts with: a...
A: ¿Sigues en Madrid? B: Sí, __________.
Which is a valid gerund for seguir?
Nosotros __________ (seguir) trabajando.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesYo __________ (estudiar) español.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Sego trabajando.
sigo / trabajando / yo / hoy
I am still waiting.
A: ¿Sigues en Madrid? B: Sí, __________.
Which is a valid gerund for seguir?
Nosotros __________ (seguir) trabajando.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises¿Tú ___ (seguir) trabajando en esa empresa?
Él sigue leer el libro.
Instagram / fotos / subiendo / Sigo
They keep on asking for money.
Select the correct option:
Match the pairs:
Ella sigue ___ (sentir) dolor.
I don't keep on living there.
Mis amigos sigue jugando videojuegos.
mensajes / Me / mandando / sigue
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, as long as it makes sense to continue that action.
Yes, they are interchangeable.
It is an e->i stem-changing verb.
Yes, 'seguía estudiando' means 'I was still studying'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Use 'ya no' + verb.
Yes, it is universal.
Yes, e.g., 'Sigo duchándome'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Still + Verb-ing
Spanish uses a verb construction instead of an adverb.
Continuer à + infinitive
French uses the infinitive; Spanish uses the gerund.
Immer noch + verb
German relies on adverbs, not a specific auxiliary verb.
~te iru
Japanese is more focused on the state of the action.
ma zala + verb
Arabic uses a verb phrase that literally means 'has not ceased'.
hái zài + verb
Chinese uses a particle/adverb combination.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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