Active participles: Verbs in disguise
In Spanish, you can turn a verb into a descriptive adjective to explain what something does.
For verbs ending in -ar, drop the infinitive ending and add -ante.
| Verb | Adjective |
|---|---|
| hidratar (to moisturize) | hidratante (moisturizing) |
| exfoliar (to exfoliate) | exfoliante (exfoliating) |
| refrescar (to refresh) | refrescante (refreshing) |
Because these new adjectives end in -e, they are gender-neutral (e.g., el gel hidratante, la crema hidratante).
| I apply this moisturizing cream every day to moisturize my face. | Me pongo esta crema hidratante todos los días para hidratar la cara. |
| To exfoliate your skin, you should use an exfoliating gel. | Para exfoliar la piel, debes usar un gel exfoliante. |
| This water refreshes a lot; it is very refreshing. | Esta agua refresca mucho; es muy refrescante. |
Working with -er and -ir verbs
For verbs ending in -er and -ir, drop the infinitive ending and add either -ente or -iente.
| Verb | Adjective |
|---|---|
| absorber (to absorb) | absorbente (absorbent) |
| relucir (to gleam) | reluciente (gleaming) |
Like -ante adjectives, these are gender-neutral. Just add -s to make them plural.
| Your skin absorbs this cream fast because it is very absorbent. | Tu piel absorbe esta crema rápido porque es muy absorbente. |
| This oil makes my face gleam; it leaves the skin gleaming. | Este aceite me hace relucir la cara; deja la piel reluciente. |
You can combine these adjectives to describe your ideal routine:
| I need an exfoliating and refreshing product for my skin. | Necesito un producto exfoliante y refrescante para mi piel. |
| I forgot to buy the moisturizing cream, but I have the absorbent gel. | Se me olvidó comprar la crema hidratante, pero tengo el gel absorbente. |
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