Learn Spanish (Spain): Aprendo español leyendo.

Aprendo español leyendo.

I learn Spanish by reading.

Breakdown of Aprendo español leyendo.

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Questions & Answers about Aprendo español leyendo.

Why is 'by reading' translated as just leyendo without a word for 'by'?

In Spanish, the gerund (the verb form ending in -ando or -iendo) can be used all by itself to express the method or how you do something. You do not need a preposition like por before it. Saying por leyendo is a common mistake for English speakers, but just leyendo perfectly translates to 'by reading'.

Why is it spelled leyendo instead of 'leiendo'?

To make the gerund for -er and -ir verbs, you usually add -iendo to the stem. But for leer, the stem ends in a vowel (le-). Adding -iendo would create 'leiendo'. Because Spanish avoids putting an unstressed 'i' between two vowels, that 'i' changes to a 'y', making it leyendo.

Why isn't there an el before español here?

Languages usually need a definite article like el when they are the subject of a sentence. However, you drop the article when the language comes directly after verbs about acquiring or using a language, such as aprender (to learn), hablar (to speak), or estudiar (to study).