Using venir + gerundio (perífrasis verbal)

Question 1

venir (conjugated) + Gerundio

Answer 1

to express that an action is in progress

With venir + Gerundio we talk about actions in progress that have a starting point prior to the moment of speaking and this action continues to be in progress and could continue into the future.

Often there is a time phrase that indicates either the starting point of the action or a certain moment that the progressive action has reached
Although this structure admits different tenses, it’s mainly used in El Presente and El Pretérito Imperfecto
When accompanied by pronouns, these can go at the very beginning of the structure or at the end, attached to the gerund:

la venía observando
venía observándola
venía la observando (incorrect)

He was watching her

Question 2

I’m thinking that maybe I should apologise to Antonio.

Answer 2

Vengo pensando que quizás debería disculparme con Antonio.

Question 3

My dad has been thinking about it for several days.

Answer 3

Mi padre viene dándole vueltas a ese asunto desde hace varios días.

Question 4

At that time my son was behaving strangely [lit: doing strange things] and we were worried.

Answer 4

En aquella época mi hijo venía haciendo cosas raras y estábamos preocupados.

Question 5

The neighbours are saying that it’d be good to renovate the block.

Answer 5

Los vecinos vienen diciendo que estaría bien hacer reformas en el bloque.

Question 6

I suspect that from that day he’s been hiding the truth from me.

Answer 6

Sospecho que desde aquel día viene ocultándome la verdad.

Question 7

He’s been complaining until today, so it doesn’t look like the pain has disappeared.

Answer 7

Ha venido quejándose hasta hoy, así que el dolor no parece haber desaparecido.