Preparándolas

Preparándolas is a Spanish gerund form derived from the verb preparar with the feminine plural direct object pronoun las. It denotes the ongoing action of preparing them and is commonly used to describe a process parallel to another action or as part of a progressive construction.

Grammatically, preparar takes the gerund -ando to form preparando. When a clitic pronoun such as las is attached, the result is preparándolas, with an accent on the á to preserve the correct stress. This form can appear with auxiliary verbs, as in estoy preparándolas (I am preparing them) or las estoy preparando (I am preparing them). The pronoun may also appear before the verb in some sentence orders, as in las estoy preparando.

Usage and examples:

- Estoy preparándolas para la cena. (I am preparing them for dinner.)

- Las estoy preparando para la cena. (I am preparing them for dinner.)

- Estamos preparando las invitadas; preparándolas, terminamos todo a tiempo. (We are preparing them; by preparing them, we finish on time.)

Nuances: the gerundial form emphasizes the continuity of the action and can be used to indicate simultaneity or manner. In formal writing, native speakers often prefer finite forms or subordinate clauses rather than extended gerund constructions, especially to avoid ambiguity or rhythm issues. Regional usage varies, and some contexts favor shorter constructions such as “preparando las” or rephrasing with a finite verb.