"gerund" vs. "gerundio" (Misuse of terms on SD)
Despite the label used in the conjugation tables, the Spanish verb forms that end in -ando, -iendo are not gerunds. In Spanish they are called "gerundios". The terms "gerund" and "gerundio" obviously are related etymologically but neither is a translation for the other.
In English a "gerund" is a verbal noun. i.e. "Walking is good exercise." However in the sentence "I am walking to the store." or "The man walking in the street ..." 'walking' is not a gerund; it is a present participle (used to form progressive/continuous tenses or as an adjective). Thus, it is incorrect that the verb form ending in '-ing' is a gerund (one should, instead, say can be used as a gerund [form != function]).
The R.A.E. says of 'gerundio': "Forma invariable no personal del verbo, cuya terminación regular, en español, es -ando en los verbos de la primera conjugación, -iendo o -yendo en los de la segunda y tercera." and goes on to say: "Tiene más generalmente carácter adverbial, y puede expresar modo, condición, tiempo, motivo, concesión y otras circunstancias."
In Spanish the only verbal form that can be used as a noun (thereby fulfilling the English definition of a 'gerund') is the infinitive.
The terms that should be used in the conjugation tables (if the entries are to be labeled in English) are 'present participle' and 'past participle'. Conversely the entries could be labeled with the Spanish grammatical terms.
8 Answers
@ Marianne
What is a present participle?
A verb form with an "-ing" ending (for example, "tapping").
What is the present progressive ?
A form of the verb "to be" PLUS a present participle (for example, "is tapping").
The Difference Between the Present Progressive and Present Participle?
Both have the same "-ing" ending, but a present participle alone can't stand as the main verb of a sentence (unaccompanied by a form of the verb "to be").
For example, "John, tapping his leg to the music" is incomplete.
A verb in the present progressive may itself serve as the predicate of a sentence:
For example "John is tapping his leg to the music."
The present progressive is used for ongoing actions--that is, for actions occurring at the moment of speaking and for actions that take place for a short period of time.
In English, the gerund is identical in form to the present participle (ending in -ing) and can behave as a verb within a clause (so that it may be modified by an adverb or have an object), but the clause as a whole (sometimes consisting of only one word, the gerund itself) acts as a noun within the larger sentence.
In some ways the usual terminology does not make enough distinctions. On the other hand, many would say that grammatical terminology over-complicates things. My personal preference is to use the term 'present participle' to refer to the form of the word (derived from a verb and ending in '-ing') and to its use as an adjective.
I am tempted to refer to the use (in English) of the infinitive as a noun (in most cases, one can use, indifferently, the infinitive or the present participle as a noun) a a 'gerund' (thus placing all of the focus on the function). Basically this results from reasoning backwards from the notion of "verbal noun". In English (in most cases) one can use either the infinitive or the present participle as a noun (in Spanish, only the infinitive). However, from what I've read, many grammarians do not refer to the infinitive used as a noun as a 'gerund' (maybe they really are trying to complicate things).
Mmmm very interesting
Just to add a little more here's a quote from Wikipedia - under the heading Gerund
In English, the gerund is identical in form to the present participle (ending in -ing) and can behave as a verb within a clause (so that it may be modified by an adverb or have an object), but the clause as a whole (sometimes consisting of only one word, the gerund itself) acts as a noun within the larger sentence. For example: Editing this article is easy.
Some use "gerund" to refer to all nouns ending in -ing, but in more careful use, not all nouns ending in -ing are gerunds.[1] The formal distinction is that a gerund is a verbal noun – a noun derived from a verb that retains verb characteristics, that functions simultaneously as a noun and a verb, while other nouns ending in -ing are deverbal nouns, which function as common nouns, not as verbs at all. Compare: I like fencing. (gerund, an activity, could be replaced with "to fence") The white fencing adds to the character of the neighborhood. (deverbal, could be replaced with an object such as "bench") [edit]
Thank you for this. It clarifies things for the most part, but I still have a question about the gerundio and if I have used it correctly. I often text my boyfriend en español. For example, I will ask: ¿Trabajando duro? Working hard? His answer: Siempre. Always
Obviously he understood me, but I am wondering if this is proper use of the gerundio. Gracias 
So, in English, we only call the present participle a gerund when it's used as a noun? As in: "Walking is the best." "Crying is for girls." "Dancing is not fun."
Aplausos!!!
No podría haber sido explicado mejor!!!
But then, what are examples of words that can be used as gerunds but not present participles? - Perry-Bleibe
From the theoretical point of view, any infinitive. In practice, in English, it depends on the verb (I.e. it is not a question of grammar but of usage/preference). However, this response depends on the acceptance of the use of the term 'gerund' to encompass "infinitives used as nouns".
Obviously if one defines a gerund as being "a present participle used as a noun", then anything that is not a 'present participle' is automatically excluded. If, on the other hand, one accepts "a verbal form used as a noun" then the range of possibilities is broadened (because infinitives can also be used as nouns).
..."The man walking in the street ..." walking' is not a gerund; it is a present participle..
Thank you, Samdie. I've been confused by these terms before!!
I've felt forced (by others' constant use of the word) to use the word "gerund" when what I really wanted to say was "present participle."
Can I use the term "present progressive" to describe the "present participle" or do they have different meanings?
