Spanish · C1 · Everyday language
The World Moving Around You in Spanish
This guide focuses on describing ongoing actions and surroundings to your child using C1-level Spanish structures. We will use present participles (gerundios) and descriptive relative clauses to mimic the complexity and nuance of extended attributive phrases, focusing on active, unfolding movements.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of Spanish gerunds to describe simultaneous actions.
- Form complex descriptive sentences using relative clauses (que + verb).
- Expand vocabulary related to nature, baby routines, and sensory experiences.
- Practice natural word order for describing objects in motion.
Spanish phrases for the world moving around you
Mira las hojas que bailan sobre tu cochecito.
Look at the leaves dancing above your stroller.
Uses a relative clause 'que bailan' for a natural, active description.
El pato que flota junto a tu rodilla se está acercando.
The duck floating beside your knee is coming closer.
The phrase 'que flota' acts as the attributive description of the duck.
¿Puedes ver al perro durmiendo bajo ese banco?
Can you see the dog sleeping under that bench?
Uses the gerund 'durmiendo' to describe a continuous state.
El agua que gotea sobre tus dedos se siente de maravilla, ¿verdad?
The water trickling over your fingers feels lovely, doesn't it?
'De maravilla' is a natural way to express that something feels great.
Esas manitas que buscan mi cara son tuyas.
Those little hands reaching towards my face belong to you.
The verb 'buscar' (to seek/reach for) captures the intent of the movement.
El bebé que sonríe desde el espejo tiene tus mismas mejillas preciosas.
The baby smiling back from the mirror has your lovely cheeks.
Relative clauses are preferred over participles for identifying specific subjects.
El pájaro que canta fuera de nuestra ventana suena muy atareado.
The bird singing outside our window sounds very busy.
'Atareado' implies being busy with a specific task, like a bird's song.
La avena que se enfría lentamente en tu cuenco estará lista pronto.
The porridge slowly cooling in your bowl will be ready soon.
Uses the reflexive 'se enfría' to denote the process of cooling down.
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
Cochecito
Stroller / Pram
Commonly used diminutive for 'coche' in the context of babies.
Gotear / Escurrir
To trickle / To drip
Spanish often uses specific verbs for water movement rather than general participles.
Cuenco
Bowl
Often used for deeper dishes like those used for porridge or soup.
Mejillas
Cheeks
A common term in parenting; 'cachetes' is a more informal alternative.
Attributive Descriptions: Relative Clauses vs. Gerunds
While English uses the present participle (-ing) as an adjective, Spanish typically uses a relative clause (que + conjugated verb) or a gerund to describe an ongoing action associated with a noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Clause | N + que + Verb | Las hojas que bailan (The dancing leaves) |
| Gerund (State) | N + Gerundio | El perro durmiendo (The sleeping dog) |
| Process | N + en proceso de... | La avena enfriándose (The cooling porridge) |
More examples
La suave brisa que sopla entre los árboles nos refresca.
The gentle breeze blowing through the trees refreshes us.
Example of an extended attributive description using a relative clause.
Mira al gato saltando por el jardín.
Look at the cat jumping through the garden.
Gerund used to capture a snapshot of a physical action.