Sigo practicando español con mis amigos en la biblioteca.

Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Spanish now

Questions & Answers about Sigo practicando español con mis amigos en la biblioteca.

What does seguir + gerundio mean here?
It expresses continuity: to keep on doing or to still be doing something. Sigo practicando means I keep practicing / I’m still practicing. By contrast, Estoy practicando just describes an action in progress now, without the “still/continue” nuance.
Why is there no yo before sigo?
Spanish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the subject. Sigo means I continue. You add yo only for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Yo sigo practicando, pero ellos no.
Why practicando and not practicar after seguir?
Because seguir forms a verbal periphrasis with the gerund: seguir + gerundio. Forms like seguir practicar or seguir a practicar are incorrect here. Say Sigo practicando, Sigue estudiando, etc.
Should there be an article before español? Why not el español?
After verbs like estudiar, aprender, hablar, enseñar, practicar, you typically omit the article: practico español. practico el español is possible but sounds more formal/generic (the language as an object of study). In Spain, omission is very common in this context.
Is español the same as castellano in Spain?
Yes. Both name the same language. In Spain, español is the general term; castellano is also widely used, especially when distinguishing it from other state languages. Either is fine in this sentence.
Can I replace español with a pronoun? Where does it go?

Yes. Use lo (masculine singular direct object):

  • Before the conjugated verb: Lo sigo practicando.
  • Attached to the gerund: Sigo practicándolo. Note the accent in practicándolo.
Why en la biblioteca and not a la biblioteca?
Use en for location (at/in): en la biblioteca. Use a only for movement toward a place: Voy a la biblioteca.
Does biblioteca mean bookstore?
No. Biblioteca = library. Librería = bookstore. It’s a classic false friend.
Why amigos and not amigas? What about inclusive forms?
  • amigos is the default plural for mixed/unspecified gender groups.
  • Use amigas only if everyone is female.
  • Inclusive spellings like amigues/amigxs are informal and nonstandard; you may see them in some contexts, but they aren’t used in formal writing or standard teaching.
How is seguir conjugated in the present (Spain)?

It’s irregular (e→i) and adds a g in the first person:

  • yo sigo
  • sigues
  • él/ella/usted sigue
  • nosotros/nosotras seguimos
  • vosotros/vosotras seguís
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes siguen
How do I say “I continued practicing…” in the past?
  • Completed/one-time continuation: Seguí practicando español. (preterite)
  • Ongoing background past: Seguía practicando español. (imperfect) Pick based on narrative viewpoint.
Are there other natural ways to express the same idea?

Yes:

  • Continúo practicando español.
  • Sigo con el español.
  • Sigo estudiando español. All are idiomatic; seguir + gerundio is the most common.
Can I move the phrases around in the sentence?

Yes. For example:

  • Sigo practicando español en la biblioteca con mis amigos.
  • Con mis amigos, sigo practicando español en la biblioteca. The meaning stays the same; the shift changes emphasis/flow slightly.
How do I say “I still don’t practice Spanish with my friends at the library”?

Use seguir + sin + infinitivo:

  • Sigo sin practicar español con mis amigos en la biblioteca. You can also say Todavía no practico español…
Can I add todavía to emphasize “still”?

Yes:

  • Todavía sigo practicando español… (common and emphatic)
  • Sigo practicando español todavía. Some consider the first a bit redundant, but it’s frequent and natural.
Any quick spelling and pronunciation tips for this sentence (Spain)?
  • Languages are lowercased: español.
  • ñ is its own letter; don’t replace it with n.
  • Stress: es-pa-ñol; bi-blio-te-ca; prac-ti-can-do; si-go.
  • In most of Spain, c before a/o/u sounds like hard k: biblioteca [bi-blio-TE-ka]. The b between vowels is soft.