Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Small Tricks Help in Spanish
Teach your child how to solve everyday problems and improve skills by using 'manner clauses'. In Spanish, we express how something is achieved (the 'by doing' construction) using the gerund form (-ando/-iendo).
What you'll learn
- Express methods and techniques using the Spanish gerund.
- Discuss school routines and organizational habits.
- Encourage problem-solving and helpful behaviors in children.
Spanish phrases for small tricks help
Puedes hacer tu mochila más ligera dejando los juguetes innecesarios en casa.
You can make your school bag lighter by leaving unnecessary toys at home.
Uses 'dejando' (leaving) to show the method.
Puedes mantener tu almuerzo fresco poniendo un bloque de hielo en tu lonchera.
You can keep your lunch fresh by putting a cool pack in your lunchbox.
'Poniendo' is the gerund of 'poner' (to put).
Puedes entender mejor la historia mirando los dibujos.
You can understand the story better by looking at the pictures.
'Mirando' is the gerund of 'mirar' (to look).
Puedes recordar palabras nuevas leyéndolas en voz alta.
You can remember new words by reading them aloud.
Note the pronoun 'las' attached to the end of the gerund 'leyendo'.
Puedes revisar tus deberes comparando tus respuestas con el ejemplo.
You can check your homework by comparing your answers with the example.
'Revisar' is commonly used for checking or reviewing work.
Puedes mejorar tu equilibrio mirando hacia adelante.
You can improve your balance by looking straight ahead.
'Hacia adelante' means straight ahead or forward.
Puedes ahorrar para un balón de fútbol apartando algo de dinero cada semana.
You can save for a football by putting some pocket money aside each week.
'Apartando' means setting aside or putting aside.
Puedes ayudar a tu amigo explicando las reglas despacio.
You can help your friend by explaining the rules slowly.
'Explicando' is the gerund of 'explicar' (to explain).
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
Mochila
School bag / Backpack
A standard word for the bag kids take to school.
Lonchera
Lunchbox
Commonly used in Latin America; in Spain, 'fiambrera' is more common.
Deberes
Homework
Used mostly in Spain; 'tarea' is the preferred term in Latin America.
En voz alta
Aloud / Out loud
Literally 'in high voice'.
The Gerund for Manner (By doing...)
To explain 'how' an action is achieved in Spanish, we use the gerund. Unlike English, we do not use the preposition 'by'. We simply use the gerund form of the verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -AR Verbs | Stem + -ando | Hablar -> Hablando (By speaking) |
| -ER Verbs | Stem + -iendo | Comer -> Comiendo (By eating) |
| -IR Verbs | Stem + -iendo | Escribir -> Escribiendo (By writing) |
More examples
¿Cómo puedo aprender más rápido? Escuchando música en español.
How can I learn faster? By listening to music in Spanish.
Short conversational example of the manner clause.
Aprendes a montar en bici practicando todos los días.
You learn to ride a bike by practicing every day.
Demonstrates the method using the gerund 'practicando'.