siguiendo

Siguiendo is the gerund of the Spanish verb seguir, meaning to follow or to continue. In Spanish grammar, the gerund marks ongoing action and is used in a variety of constructions to express continuity or to link actions in time. It can also function as a modifier in phrases such as “siguiendo las instrucciones” (following the instructions) or “siguiendo el plan” (following the plan).

Form and usage: Siguiendo is formed from the stem of seguir with the gerund ending -iendo, yielding sig u i en do. It is commonly used with auxiliary verbs to form progressive tenses, as in estar siguiendo: “Estoy siguiendo las instrucciones” (I am following the instructions). It also appears in periphrastic sequences such as “continuar siguiendo,” meaning to keep following, or in noun-like phrases where the action of following is the focus, for example “siguiendo el hilo de la conversación” (following the thread of the conversation). The gerund can serve as a modifier or adverbial element, often conveying simultaneity or a manner of action.

Pronunciation and spelling: The gerund “siguiendo” retains the “gu” sequence to preserve the pronunciation after the g when followed by the i, as in other -guir verbs like conseguir and seguir.

Etymology and related forms: Siguiendo derives from the verb seguir, which comes from Latin sequi, meaning to follow. A related noun is seguimiento, used to denote the act of following or monitoring.

Translation notes: In English, sig u i en do is usually translated as “following” or “continuing,” depending on context. It is distinct from forms like “siguiente” (next) and from noun-based expressions such as seguimiento for the act of following or monitoring.