Perífrases de gerúndio: aspecto (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerúndio)
Perífrases de gerúndio: aspecto (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerúndio) means “Aspectual gerund periphrases (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerund)”. Beyond estar + gerund (an action in progress), Portuguese uses several auxiliaries plus the gerund to add aspectual nuance. Formation: auxiliar (ir / vir / andar / ficar / continuar / seguir / viver / acabar) + gerúndio (-ndo)
Aspectual gerund periphrases (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerund)
B2Formation
auxiliar (ir / vir / andar / ficar / continuar / seguir / viver / acabar) + gerúndio (-ndo)
Explanation
Beyond estar + gerund (an action in progress), Portuguese uses several auxiliaries plus the gerund to add aspectual nuance. Ir + gerund shows gradual development (ele foi melhorando = he gradually got better) or 'start doing / do as you go' (vá fazendo). Vir + gerund marks a process building up toward now (as coisas vêm melhorando = things have been improving), while andar + gerund expresses a recent, habitual tendency (ele anda estudando = he's been studying a lot lately). Ficar + gerund conveys persistence, often with impatience (para de ficar reclamando = stop keeping on complaining), and viver + gerund means doing something constantly (ela vive reclamando = she's always complaining). Continuar/seguir + gerund means to keep doing, and acabar + gerund means to end up doing. Spanish has the same set (iba mejorando, anda estudiando, sigue trabajando), so transfer is strong, but Brazilian ficar + gerund for annoying persistence is especially productive.
Examples
Note
Careful: ir + gerund looks forward (gradual development), while vir + gerund looks back over a process up to now. Don't confuse either with plain estar + gerund, which just means 'doing right now'.
FAQ
Perífrases de gerúndio: aspecto (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerúndio) — what does it mean and how is it used?
Aspectual gerund periphrases (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerund). Beyond estar + gerund (an action in progress), Portuguese uses several auxiliaries plus the gerund to add aspectual nuance. Ir + gerund shows gradual development (ele foi melhorando = he gradually got better) or 'start doing / do as you go' (vá fazendo). Vir + gerund marks a process building up toward now (as coisas vêm melhorando = things have been improving), while andar + gerund expresses a recent, habitual tendency (ele anda estudando = he's been studying a lot lately). Ficar + gerund conveys persistence, often with impatience (para de ficar reclamando = stop keeping on complaining), and viver + gerund means doing something constantly (ela vive reclamando = she's always complaining). Continuar/seguir + gerund means to keep doing, and acabar + gerund means to end up doing. Spanish has the same set (iba mejorando, anda estudiando, sigue trabajando), so transfer is strong, but Brazilian ficar + gerund for annoying persistence is especially productive.
Perífrases de gerúndio: aspecto (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerúndio) — how do you form it?
auxiliar (ir / vir / andar / ficar / continuar / seguir / viver / acabar) + gerúndio (-ndo)
Perífrases de gerúndio: aspecto (ir/vir/andar/ficar/viver + gerúndio) — any usage notes?
Careful: ir + gerund looks forward (gradual development), while vir + gerund looks back over a process up to now. Don't confuse either with plain estar + gerund, which just means 'doing right now'.