Gerunds with a double vowel?

Question

I just learned about the gerunds today.
The lesson previous to this presented the term leyendo: reading from the infinitive form leer.

When I encounter verbs with a double vowel such as creer or leer, will I always add a -yendo instead of -iendo?

Thanks

Answer 1

When I encounter verbs with a double vowel such as creer or leer, will I always add a -yendo instead of -iendo?

"Y" verbs

When you have a verb ending in a vowel +ER/IR, change the I in IENDO to Y. It looks better and sounds better. You've done this before. Do you remember the tense? Look at the examples:

leer>leyendo

caer>cayendo

huir>huyendo

Impress me. Why didn't "seguir" change? (In previous section) It fits the rule, doesn't it?...Or does it?????

From the exception above I would say, no, not always.

Do you know the answer to his question?

Hint: it has to do with why the u is in the word and pronunciation. (this is also an interesting exception to triphthongs.)

Show off! :) I just finished lesson 1:12, I have not yet encountered seguiendo let along seguir. You somehow knew that I couldn't leave the stone unturned. I'll have to figure this one out, now. - quépasa, Sep 12, 2009

*siguiendo - Juanjo23, Sep 13, 2009