How do I say keep doing or still doing in Spanish?

Seguir + gerund. Conjugate seguir in any tense, then add the gerund directly (no preposition). Sigo estudiando (I'm still studying). Sigue intentándolo (Keep trying it).

Why does seguir take a gerund instead of an infinitive?

Seguir is one of the few Spanish periphrastic constructions that pairs with a gerund (estar + gerund, ir + gerund, andar + gerund are others). Most periphrastics use infinitives (tener que comer, empezar a comer), but continuity-of-action constructions use gerunds.

What's the difference between seguir and continuar + gerund?

Both mean to keep / continue doing. Seguir is more colloquial and frequent; continuar is slightly more formal. They're interchangeable in most contexts. Continuar may sound more deliberate or professional.

How do I say I still don't with seguir?

Use seguir + sin + infinitive: Sigo sin entender (I still don't understand), Sigue sin venir (He still hasn't come). This is more natural than the alternative seguir + no + gerund.

How can I learn seguir + gerund naturally?

Continuity of action is a constant topic. Parrot's short-form videos surface sigo viviendo aquí / sigue lloviendo / sigue intentándolo in real conversations, so the construction becomes automatic with exposure.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Seguir + Gerund: How to Say Keep Doing / Still Doing in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Periphrastic meaning to keep doing / still be doing. Conjugate seguir (e → i stem change) in any tense and follow with a gerund (-ando / -iendo). Expresses continuity or persistence of an action.

Sigo estudiando español.

I'm still studying Spanish.

What it is

Seguir + gerund is the Spanish construction for to keep doing or to still be doing. Conjugate seguir (e → i stem change in present and subjunctive) in any tense, then follow with a gerund (-ando for -ar verbs, -iendo for -er and -ir verbs). Expresses continuity of an action over time.

In Sigo estudiando español (I'm still studying Spanish), sigo is the present yo form of seguir and estudiando is the gerund. The construction emphasizes ongoing continuation.

How to spot it

Look for seguir + gerund (no preposition between them). The gerund ends in -ando or -iendo. Don't add a or de.

Sigo trabajando aquí. — I'm still working here.
Seguimos esperando. — We keep waiting.
¿Sigues viviendo en Madrid? — Are you still living in Madrid?

Continuar + gerund (continuar trabajando = keep working) is a synonym with similar meaning. Seguir is more colloquial and frequent.

Seguir + Gerund Quick Reference

Seguir + gerund across tenses

Tense	yo form	Meaning
Present	sigo + gerund	I'm still / keep doing...
Preterite	seguí + gerund	I kept doing...
Imperfect	seguía + gerund	I was still doing...
Future	seguiré + gerund	I'll keep doing...
Conditional	seguiría + gerund	I would keep doing...
Subjunctive	siga + gerund	(that) I keep doing...

Common Seguir + Gerund Examples in Spanish

Seguir + gerund expresses continuity. From still doing something to keep doing it repeatedly, the construction covers all contexts of persistent action.

Still Doing (Ongoing)

Sigo viviendo en Madrid.: I'm still living in Madrid.
Sigue lloviendo.: It's still raining.
Sigo estudiando para el examen.: I'm still studying for the exam.
Sigue trabajando en el mismo lugar.: He still works at the same place.
Seguimos buscando una solución.: We're still looking for a solution.

Still + verb (continuation from past to present) is the most common use of seguir + gerund.

Keep Doing (Persistence)

Sigue intentándolo.: Keep trying.
Sigue caminando hasta llegar al parque.: Keep walking until you reach the park.
Sigan estudiando, ¡no se rindan!: Keep studying, don't give up!
Seguimos avanzando paso a paso.: We keep moving forward step by step.
Sigue preguntando si tienes dudas.: Keep asking if you have doubts.

Imperative seguir + gerund = encouragement to persist. Common in advice and motivation.

Comparison with Ya / Todavía

Todavía sigo aprendiendo.: I'm still learning.
¿Sigues enfadado?: Are you still angry?
Aún sigo soltero.: I'm still single.
Llevo cinco años y sigo aquí.: It's been five years and I'm still here.
Siguen sin contestar.: They still haven't answered.

Seguir + gerund overlaps with todavía + verb. Both express ongoing state, often combined for emphasis (todavía sigo).

Sin + Infinitive Alternative

Sigo sin entender.: I still don't understand.
Sigue sin llover.: It's still not raining.
Seguimos sin tener noticias.: We still haven't gotten news.
Sigo sin saber qué hacer.: I still don't know what to do.
Sigue sin venir.: He still hasn't come.

Seguir + sin + infinitive expresses still NOT doing something (the negative version of continuation). A common alternative to seguir + no + verb.

How Seguir + Gerund Works

Structure: Seguir + Gerund (No Preposition)

Conjugate seguir in any tense, then add a gerund directly (no preposition). The gerund ends in -ando for -ar verbs (estudiando) or -iendo for -er and -ir verbs (haciendo, viviendo).

Sigo / seguí / seguiré + estudiando.

Direct construction, no preposition.

Seguir + gerund. No a, no de.

Seguir Is e → i Stem-Changing

Seguir follows the -ir e → i stem change in all forms except nosotros / vosotros (in present and subjunctive). Present: sigo, sigues, sigue, seguimos, seguís, siguen. Subjunctive: siga, sigas, siga, sigamos, sigáis, sigan.

sigo, sigues, sigue, seguimos, siguen.

e → i in stressed forms.

Stem change in present + subjunctive.

Continuar Is a Synonym

Continuar + gerund expresses the same idea. Slightly more formal than seguir. Both are correct: Continúo trabajando = Sigo trabajando.

Continúo / sigo trabajando.

Same meaning, different formality.

Continuar = formal alternative.

Negative: Sigo Sin + Infinitive

For still NOT doing something, the most natural construction is seguir + sin + infinitive: sigo sin entender (I still don't understand). This is more idiomatic than seguir + no + verb.

Sigo sin entender. Sigue sin venir.

Still NOT doing = seguir + sin + infinitive.

Negative continuity = sin + infinitive.

Common Mistakes with Seguir + Gerund

Incorrect: Sigo a estudiando. — I'm still studying. (wrong, extra a)

Correct: Sigo estudiando. — I'm still studying.

Seguir + gerund doesn't take a preposition. The construction is direct: conjugated seguir + gerund. Don't add a or de.

Incorrect: Sigo estudiar. — I'm still studying. (wrong, infinitive instead of gerund)

Correct: Sigo estudiando. — I'm still studying.

Seguir requires a gerund (estudiando), not an infinitive (estudiar). This is one of the few Spanish periphrastic constructions that uses a gerund rather than an infinitive.

Incorrect: Sigo no entendiendo. — I still don't understand. (technically awkward in Spanish)

Correct: Sigo sin entender. — I still don't understand.

For still not doing something, Spanish prefers seguir + sin + infinitive (sigo sin entender). Sigo no entendiendo is grammatical but less natural; native speakers use sin + infinitive.

Seguir + Gerund FAQs

How do I say keep doing or still doing in Spanish?: Seguir + gerund. Conjugate seguir in any tense, then add the gerund directly (no preposition). Sigo estudiando (I'm still studying). Sigue intentándolo (Keep trying it).
Why does seguir take a gerund instead of an infinitive?: Seguir is one of the few Spanish periphrastic constructions that pairs with a gerund (estar + gerund, ir + gerund, andar + gerund are others). Most periphrastics use infinitives (tener que comer, empezar a comer), but continuity-of-action constructions use gerunds.
What's the difference between seguir and continuar + gerund?: Both mean to keep / continue doing. Seguir is more colloquial and frequent; continuar is slightly more formal. They're interchangeable in most contexts. Continuar may sound more deliberate or professional.
How do I say I still don't with seguir?: Use seguir + sin + infinitive: Sigo sin entender (I still don't understand), Sigue sin venir (He still hasn't come). This is more natural than the alternative seguir + no + gerund.
How can I learn seguir + gerund naturally?: Continuity of action is a constant topic. Parrot's short-form videos surface sigo viviendo aquí / sigue lloviendo / sigue intentándolo in real conversations, so the construction becomes automatic with exposure.