Present progressive in Spanish
- Presente progresivo en español
What is the present progressive?
The present progressive is a verbal expression of the present that refers to actions that are happening at the same time as it is spoken. That is, it expresses an action that is happening now, at this precise moment. It is also used to express temporary situations or states. It is different from other Spanish verb tenses because it is used specifically to talk about actions that are taking place at the moment they are spoken.
How is the present progressive formed?
The structure of the present progressive is formed by the use of the verb "estar" conjugated in the present, followed by the gerund of the main verb.
Let's briefly recall how the verb "estar" is conjugated.
The gerund is the impersonal form of a verb; It is formed by adding -ando or -iendo to the root of the verb:
Verb that ends in:
Infinitive
Gerund
ar
caminar
caminando
er
comer
comiendo
ir
salir
saliendo
Uses of the Present progressive
Actions in Progress
Is the main function and is used to indicate that an action is taking place at this moment.
Estoy estudiando. -- I'm studying.
Mi madre está cocinando. -- My mother is cooking.
Mis amigos están estudiando. -- My friends are studying.
Temporary situations
Estoy trabajando en un proyecto nuevo. -- I am working on a new project.
Está viviendo con sus padres. -- He is living with his parents.
Changes or evolutions in progress
El clima está mejorando. -- The weather is improving.
Estamos aprendiendo rápidamente. -- We are learning quickly.
Irregular forms of the gerund
When the verb root ends with a vowel, such as caer or oir, "yendo" is used instead of "iendo".
Some examples are:
- Leer / leyendo – to read / reading
- Poseer / poseyendo – to possess / possessing
- Creer / creyendo – to believe / believing
- Caer / cayendo – to fall / falling
- Construir / construyendo – to build / building
- Oír / oyendo – to hear / hearing
- Traer / trayendo - to bring / bringing
- Ir / yendo – to go / going
Other irregular verbs are formed:
Changing "e" to "i":
- pedir / pidiendo - to ask / asking
- decir / diciendo - to say / saying
- sentir / sintiendo - to feel / feeling
- reír / riendo - to laugh / laughing
Changing "o" into "u"
- dormir / durmiendo - to sleep / sleeping
- morir / muriendo - to die / dying
- poder / pudiendo - to able / being able