Present Progressive

 

 

To describe an action in Spanish that is happening at this very moment, the present progressive tense is used. This tense is formed as follows:

Present Participle -ar verbs add ando -er/-ir verbs add iendo

Form of the verb Estar estoy,estás,está,estamos estaís,están

 

 

Examples • Yo estoy escuchando al Sr. Madan ahora. I am listening to Mr. Madan now. • ¿Qué estás haciendo? What are you doing?

 

 

The present participle is formed by dropping the last two letters from the verb infinitive and adding “ando” for -ar verbs and “iendo” for -er/-ir verbs:

• hablar hablando • comer comiendo viviendo • vivir

 

tomando • tomar • beber bebiendo • escribir escribiendo

 

There are some irregular forms that use “yendo” in forming their present participles. • leer leyendo • creer creyendo • traer trayendo • construir construyendo  

 

Only the form of estar changes with different subjects.

• Yo estoy practicando. • Manuel está practicando. The verbs venir (to come) and ir (to go) are not typically used in this tense.

 

 

This tense corresponds to the English “ing” form. The same meaning can also be expressed by using the Present Tense.

• Juan mira la téle. • Juan está mirando la téle. Juan is watching t.v.