Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Estoy probando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares. - I am trying a new method to memorize irregular verbs.

Estoy probando is the present progressive (continuous): it emphasizes that the action is happening right now or during a current period.
- Estoy probando un método nuevo… ≈ “I’m (currently) trying out a new method…”
Pruebo un método nuevo… is the simple present and can sound more habitual or general:
- “I (generally) try out a new method…”

In everyday speech, estoy probando is closer to the English idea of “I’m trying (at the moment)”, which is why it’s used here.

Why is it estoy and not soy?

Spanish uses estar + gerund (present participle) to form the present progressive, never ser + gerund.

Estar is used for states, locations, and ongoing actions.
Ser is used for identity, characteristics, time, origin, etc.

So:

✅ Estoy probando un método nuevo… = “I am trying a new method…”
❌ Soy probando un método nuevo… (incorrect and unnatural)

Any time you want to say “I am doing X (right now)”, you’ll use estar + -ando / -iendo.

How is probando formed, and why does it end in -ando?

Probando is the gerund (the “-ing” form) of probar.

To form the gerund in Spanish:

For -ar verbs: stem + -ando
- probar → prob- + -ando → probando
- hablar → hablando
- estudiar → estudiando
For -er / -ir verbs: stem + -iendo
- comer → comiendo
- vivir → viviendo

So probando literally corresponds to “trying” / “testing” in English.

What’s the difference between probar, intentar, and tratar de here?

They all relate to “trying”, but in slightly different ways:

probar = to try out / test / sample
- Estoy probando un método nuevo = “I’m trying out / testing a new method.” (focus on experimenting with the method)
intentar = to attempt (to do something)
- Usually intentar + infinitive:
  - Estoy intentando memorizar los verbos irregulares. = “I’m trying to memorize the irregular verbs.” (focus on the effort, not specifically on the method)
tratar de = to try to (synonym of intentar)
- Estoy tratando de memorizar los verbos irregulares.

In your original sentence, probar is best because you’re specifically trying out a method (testing it), not just making an effort in general.
Estoy intentando un método nuevo is possible but sounds much less natural than Estoy probando un método nuevo.

Why is it un método nuevo and not un nuevo método? Do they mean the same thing?

Both un método nuevo and un nuevo método are correct and very close in meaning. The difference is slight:

un nuevo método often feels like “a new (different/another) method” in contrast with previous ones.
un método nuevo tends to feel more like “a brand‑new method” (literally new, recently created), though in practice the distinction is not always strong.

In everyday Latin American Spanish, both orders are common here:

Estoy probando un método nuevo para…
Estoy probando un nuevo método para…

Most of the time, you won’t change the meaning much by switching the order in this case.

Why is it para memorizar and not para a memorizar or something similar?

After para plus a verb, Spanish uses the infinitive directly, with no extra preposition:

para + infinitive
- para memorizar = “(in order) to memorize”
- para estudiar
- para practicar

So:

✅ para memorizar verbos irregulares
❌ para a memorizar verbos irregulares

Here para expresses purpose:
un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares = “a new method to memorize irregular verbs” / “a new method for memorizing irregular verbs.”

Why use memorizar instead of words like aprender or recordar?

These verbs relate to memory but are not the same:

memorizar = to memorize; to intentionally commit something to memory
- Good for study techniques, flashcards, lists, etc.
aprender = to learn (broader: understand + remember)
- aprender los verbos irregulares = “to learn the irregular verbs” (not only memorize their forms)
recordar / acordarse de = to remember (later), to recall
- No recuerdo los verbos irregulares. = “I don’t remember the irregular verbs.”

In the context of a method specifically designed to fix things in your memory, memorizar is the most precise choice.
You could also say un método nuevo para aprender los verbos irregulares, but that’s a bit broader in meaning.

Why is it verbos irregulares and not verbos irregular?

Because adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe, and they usually come after the noun.

verbos = masculine plural noun
irregular (singular) → irregulares (plural adjective)

So:

Singular: un verbo irregular = “an irregular verb”
Plural: verbos irregulares = “irregular verbs”

And note the word order:

English: irregular verbs (adjective before noun)
Spanish: verbos irregulares (noun before adjective)

Could I say para memorizar los verbos irregulares instead of para memorizar verbos irregulares?

Yes, both are correct, but there’s a slight nuance:

para memorizar verbos irregulares (no article)
- More generic: “to memorize irregular verbs” (irregular verbs as a type of thing).
para memorizar los verbos irregulares (with los)
- Feels more specific: “to memorize the irregular verbs” (maybe the particular set in your course or book).

In many contexts, Spanish uses the definite article with general categories (los animales, las matemáticas), but after para + infinitive, dropping the article is very natural, especially when you’re speaking in general about an activity.
So the original version is perfectly idiomatic.

Can I just say Probando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares without estoy?

On its own, Probando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares is not a full sentence; it’s a fragment.

As a complete sentence about what you are doing, you need the verb estar:
- ✅ Estoy probando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares.
The fragment Probando un método nuevo… can appear:
- As a title/caption (e.g. on a social media post)
- In very informal speech or writing, as a shorthand or continuation of a previous idea

But in standard, neutral Spanish, to say “I’m trying a new method…”, you should include estoy.

Is Estoy intentando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares correct?

It’s understandable, but it sounds odd and less natural.

intentar is usually used with a verb (an action):
- intentar + infinitive
  - Estoy intentando memorizar los verbos irregulares.
Using intentar + noun (like un método) is much less common and can sound off in this context.

More natural options would be:

Estoy probando un método nuevo para memorizar verbos irregulares. (focusing on testing the method)
Estoy intentando memorizar los verbos irregulares con un método nuevo. (focusing on your effort to memorize)

Could I say para aprender de memoria los verbos irregulares instead of para memorizar verbos irregulares?

Yes. Aprender de memoria is a common expression that means “to learn by heart”, basically the same as “to memorize”.

So you could say:

Estoy probando un método nuevo para aprender de memoria los verbos irregulares.

The difference is stylistic:

memorizar is a single verb, a bit more concise and perhaps a bit more “technical”.
aprender de memoria is slightly more colloquial or descriptive, but still standard.

Both are perfectly natural in Latin American Spanish.