How do I make a gerund out of an irregular verb?

Question

Another gerund question here.

Would I change the stem of an irregular to make it a gerund? My instinct says no, pero quiero estar seguro!

For example:

Está dormiendo VS. Está duermiendo

Thanks!

Answer 1

Gerunds are formed using the infinitive stem, even for irregular verbs, but the -ir stem changing verbs have the same stem change as the 3rd person preterite. There are also orthographic changes. The only exception I know of is poder -> pudiendo.

Please give me a example sentence using the gerund of poder. - theMax, Oct 16, 2009

Answer 2

Sorry to have to say but I just made myself a list of the irregulares and am trying to learn them off by heart. Too many rules and formations to try and remember each method when speaking. Good luck!

Answer 3

Funny that you chose that verb as your example. You're half right in your assumption, but for stem changes like for the verb "dormir" you acutally do half the stem change for the gerund.

Dormir -> durmiendo

There are other verbs that follow this irregularity for the gerund that I can't think of now... just know that they're out there.