In Spanish, the present progressive tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening (right now). While many verbs follow regular patterns when forming the gerund, some verbs have irregular forms. Remember, a gerund adds an “-ing” in English (-ando or -iendo in Spanish). This lesson will cover how to form and use the present progressive tense with irregular verbs.
To form the present progressive with irregular verbs, you still need two components:
There are two main types of irregular gerunds:
It’s also important to note that there are no irregular -ar verbs in the present progressive.
Some verbs add a “y” in the gerund form to maintain pronunciation consistency.
Examples:
Examples in Sentences:
Caer (to fall)
Leer (to read)
Some verbs undergo stem changes in their gerund forms.
Examples:
Examples in Sentences:
Decir (to say)
Dormir (to sleep)
The present progressive tense is a powerful tool for describing ongoing actions in Spanish. Mastering its use with irregular verbs, including those that add a “y” and those that undergo stem changes, gives you more flexibility and variety in speaking Spanish. By practicing these forms, you’ll enhance your ability to express what is happening right now. Keep practicing, and enjoy your journey of learning Spanish!