Little by little: Ir + gerund
To describe an action that is developing slowly or step-by-step, Spanish uses the verb ir (to go) followed by a gerund (verb forms ending in -ando or -iendo).
This structure, ir + gerund, emphasizes that a process is moving forward gradually. In English, it often translates to "is gradually doing" or "is doing little by little".
| The linguistic system is gradually evolving. | El sistema lingüístico va evolucionando gradualmente. |
| The speakers are gradually forgetting that expression. | Los hablantes van olvidando esa expresión. |
| Although it seems strange, this regional term is gradually gaining ground. | Aunque parece extraño, este término regional va ganando terreno. |
Building up to now: Venir + gerund
When an action started in the past and has been slowly building up to the present moment, use the verb venir (to come) + gerund.
While ir + gerund focuses on an ongoing progression moving forward, venir + gerund focuses on what has accumulated up to now. It often translates to "has been doing".
| We have been gradually integrating new words. | Venimos integrando palabras nuevas gradualmente. |
| That linguistic change has been affecting the accent. | Ese cambio lingüístico viene afectando el acento. |
| The regional dialect has been changing noticeably. | El dialecto regional viene cambiando notablemente. |
Gradual progress in the past
Use these structures in the past by conjugating ir or venir in the imperfect tense (such as iba or venía) to describe a slow, gradual process that was taking place over time.
| Our grandparents spoke differently, and the dialect was gradually changing. | Nuestros abuelos hablaban distinto y el dialecto iba cambiando. |