Brain Boost: Present, Modal, and Reflexive Verbs
Section 5: Spanish Present Progressive Tense
Brain Boost: Present Progressive, Present, Reflexive Verbs
Section 6: Spanish Present Perfect
Brain Boost: Present, Present Perfect, Present Progressive
Section 7: Spanish Preterite Tense
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Instruction: Spanish Present Progressive – Regular

The present progressive tense in Spanish is used to describe actions that are currently happening or ongoing. It is equivalent to the English “-ing” form, such as “I am eating” or “She is running.” This lesson will cover how to form and use the present progressive tense with regular verbs.

Forming the Present Progressive

To form the present progressive tense in Spanish, you need two components:

  1. The present tense of the verb “estar” (to be)
  2. The gerund (gerundio) of the main verb

The gerund is formed by adding specific endings to the stem of the verb, depending on whether it is an -ar, -er, or -ir verb. The gerund (below) is similar to the English “ing.” 

  • -ar verbs: Add –ando to the stem.
    • Example: hablar (to speak) → hablando (speaking)
  • -er verbs: Add –iendo to the stem.
    • Example: comer (to eat) → comiendo (eating)
  • -ir verbs: Add –iendo to the stem.
    • Example: vivir (to live) → viviendo (living)

Conjugation of “Estar”

First, let’s review the present tense conjugation of “estar” which is always used to form the present progressive:

Yo

estoy

I am

Nosotros

estamos

we are

(Juana, Juan)

estás

you are

Vosotros

(informal Spain)

estáis

you all are

Él/Ella/Ud.

(Sra./Dr. García)

está

he/she/you are

Ellos/Ellas/Uds.

están

they/you all are

Using the Present Progressive

Combine the appropriate form of “estar” with the gerund of the main verb to form the present progressive.

Form of Estar + gerund (verb with equivalent of ing)

Examples

 
1. ar Verb: Hablar (to speak)

Yo

estoy hablando

I am speaking (right now)

Nosotros

estamos hablando

we are speaking (right now)

(Juana, Juan)

estás hablando

you are speaking (right now)

Vosotros

(informal Spain)

estáis hablando

you all are speaking (right now)

Él/Ella/Ud.

(Sra./Dr. García)

está hablando

he/she/you are speaking (right now)

Ellos/Ellas/Uds.

están hablando

they/you all are speaking (right now)

2. er Verb: Comer (to eat)

Yo

estoy comiendo

I am eating (right now)

Nosotros

estamos comiendo

we are eating (right now)

(Juana, Juan)

estás comiendo

you are eating (right now)

Vosotros

(informal Spain)

estáis comiendo

you all are eating (right now)

Él/Ella/Ud.

(Sra./Dr. García)

está comiendo

he/she/you are eating (right now)

Ellos/Ellas/Uds.

están comiendo

they/you all are eating (right now)

3. ir Verb: Vivir (to live)

Yo

estoy viviendo

I am living (right now)

Nosotros

estamos viviendo

we are living (right now)

(Juana, Juan)

estás viviendo

you are living (right now)

Vosotros

(informal Spain)

estáis viviendo

you all are living (right now)

Él/Ella/Ud.

(Sra./Dr. García)

está viviendo

he/she/you are living (right now)

Ellos/Ellas/Uds.

están viviendo

span style="color:red;">they/you all are livspan style="color:red;">ing (right now)

Present Tense vs. Present Progressive

It’s important to distinguish between the present tense and the present progressive tense:

  • Present Tense: Describes actions that are happening generally, habitual actions, or general truths. In English, it can also end with “-ing,” but it does not necessarily indicate that the action is happening at this very moment.

    • Example:
      • Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
      • Yo como una manzana. (I eat an apple.)
      • Yo vivo en Madrid. (I live in Madrid.)
  • Present Progressive: Indicates that the action is happening right now. It always implies immediacy.

    • Example:
      • Yo estoy hablando español. (I am speaking Spanish right now.)
      • Yo estoy comiendo una manzana. (I am eating an apple right now.)
      • Yo estoy viviendo en Madrid. (I am living in Madrid right now.)

Throughout this course, you will be able to distinguish the present tense from the present progressive tense, which will always contain a “right now” in the English equivalent.