Using the gerund in Spanish to say by [doing something]

We use the Gerundio/Spanish present participle in order to say by + gerund (-ing verb).

Read and listen to these examples:

Yo memorizo la información repitiendo mucho.I memorise the information by repeating it a lot.

Marta controlaba el estrés haciendo deporte.Marta controlled her stress by doing sport.

Nosotras hemos aprendido mucho escribiendo en la pizarra.We have learned a lot by writing on the board.

Las cosas se consiguen teniendo paciencia.Things are achieved by being patient.

As you can see in the examples above, there is a main action that is achieved:

  • María controlaba el estrés 

through a second action that uses the gerund (-ando, -iendo):

  • haciendo deporte.

Notice how in Spanish there is no preposition before the gerund, unlike in English (which uses by). For example:

Se pierde peso comiendo de forma sensata.
Se pierde peso por comiendo de forma sensata.
One loses weight by eating sensibly.

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

Las cosas se consiguen teniendo paciencia.Things are achieved by being patient.
Yo memorizo la información repitiendo mucho.I memorise the information by repeating it a lot.
Nosotras hemos aprendido mucho escribiendo en la pizarra.We have learned a lot by writing on the board.
Marta controlaba el estrés haciendo deporte.Marta controlled her stress by doing sport.
Getting that for you now...