Yéndote

Yéndote is the gerund form of the Spanish verb ir with the clitic pronoun te attached, forming yéndote. It is a non-finite verb form used in periphrastic constructions to indicate movement related to the second-person singular pronoun, often in progressive or directional contexts. The accent on the e (yéndote) preserves the original stress of the gerund yendo when a pronoun is added.

Morphology and usage

Yéndote is built from the verb ir (to go) in its gerundio, plus the clitic te. This clitic can attach to the gerund to express that the action involves the listener or a recipient. The form is common in spoken Spanish and in informal writing, and it can combine with other elements to specify direction or purpose, for example: Estoy yéndote a buscar (I am going to fetch you) or Ya te estás yendo (you are already leaving). When more pronouns are included, forms such as yéndotelo or yéndotela may appear, with the accent kept on the appropriate syllable to maintain pronunciation.

Notes on function

As a non-finite verb form, yéndote cannot stand alone and typically appears within a larger clause with a finite verb, such as estar or ir, to convey aspect or direction. It often implies movement toward a destination or away from a location and can convey immediacy or continuity of the action. Its use is most transparent in colloquial contexts, and it coexists with other constructions involving the gerundio of ir plus pronouns.

See also

Spanish gerund, clitic pronouns, verbs of movement, ir.