Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Skills Grow Slowly in Spanish
Encourage your child's growth by discussing techniques to master hobbies. This guide focuses on expressing the 'how' of an action using Spanish manner structures.
What you'll learn
- Explain how an action is achieved using the gerund (-ando/-iendo).
- Use hobby-related vocabulary for practical parenting situations.
- Formulate sentences describing methods for improvement.
Spanish phrases for skills grow slowly
Mejoras tu equilibrio mirando hacia adelante.
You improve your balance by looking straight ahead.
The gerund 'mirando' implies the method 'by looking'.
Aprendes la canción practicando una sección corta a la vez.
You learn the song by practising one short section at a time.
'A la vez' is a common phrase for 'at a time' or 'simultaneously'.
Haces tu presentación más clara hablando despacio.
You make your presentation clearer by speaking slowly.
'Despacio' describes the manner of speaking.
Recuerdas las reglas explicándoselas a otra persona.
You remember the rules by explaining them to someone else.
Note the pronouns -se- and -las- attached to the gerund.
Mantienes tu bici segura revisando los frenos con regularidad.
You keep your bike safe by checking the brakes regularly.
'Revisando' is used here for 'checking' or 'inspecting'.
Resuelves rompecabezas difíciles probando diferentes enfoques.
You solve difficult puzzles by trying different approaches.
'Enfoques' refers to methods or perspectives.
Aumentas tu confianza marcándote pequeñas metas.
You build your confidence by setting yourself small goals.
'Metas' is the standard word for goals or targets.
Ayudas a tu equipo escuchando las ideas de todos.
You help your team by listening to everyone's ideas.
Remember to use the personal 'a' after 'ayudas' when referring to a team/group.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Equilibrio
Balance
Used for both physical balance and mental stability.
Enfoque
Approach / Focus
Derived from 'enfocar' (to focus).
Meta
Goal
Commonly used for personal or professional milestones.
Revisar
To check / To review
Very common for maintenance or proofreading tasks.
Manner Clauses with the Gerundio
In Spanish, to express how something is done (the English 'by -ing' structure), you use the gerund (-ando for -ar verbs, -iendo for -er/-ir verbs). No preposition like 'por' or 'con' is required before the gerund when expressing manner.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -AR Verb | Hablar -> Hablando | Aprendes hablando. (You learn by speaking.) |
| -ER Verb | Leer -> Leyendo | Entiendes leyendo mucho. (You understand by reading a lot.) |
| -IR Verb | Escribir -> Escribiendo | Mejoras escribiendo a diario. (You improve by writing daily.) |
More examples
¿Cómo puedo pintar mejor? Pintando todos los días.
How can I paint better? By painting every day.
Simple Q&A showing the gerund as a method.
Ganas el juego prestando atención.
You win the game by paying attention.
'Prestando atención' is the standard way to say 'paying attention'.