GerundGerundio

Also know as the present participle, the gerund is the equivalent of the ~ing form of a verb in English.

More precisely, it is the adverb form of a verb, in that it describes how an action is happening or caused.

It is commonly used with the verb estar to form the present progressive tense. An example is:

   Ele está dormindo.
   He is sleeping.

Read more about Portuguese verb tenses and moods.