When you want to describe an action that started in the past and has been gradually accumulating or building up over time—like the slow, relentless movement of continents—use the verb venir followed by a gerund (the verb form ending in -ando or -iendo).
This structure often translates to "have been doing [something]" in English, emphasizing the continuous, ongoing progress of the action leading right up to the present moment.
| The tectonic plates have been shifting slowly. | Las placas tectónicas se vienen desplazando lentamente. |
| They have been pushing the mountain one millimeter. | Ellas vienen empujando la montaña un milímetro. |
If the verb is reflexive, like desplazarse (to shift) or romperse (to break), the reflexive pronoun (se, nos, me, etc.) is usually placed before the conjugated form of venir.
| You all know that the crust has been breaking. | Ustedes saben que la corteza se viene rompiendo. |
| The crust and the surface have been separating slowly. | La corteza y la superficie se vienen separando lentamente. |
| Why have the ice masses been breaking? | ¿Por qué se vienen rompiendo las masas de hielo? |
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