Present Progressive Tense

Unit 3, Etapa 3

This verb tense used to say that an action is happening now.

Present Progressive in English

In English, we use 1. the present tense of “to be” plus 2. the present participle which ends in -ing.

I am reading.

First, use the present tense of “estar” as the helping verb.

estar = ___________

Estoy = I am

Estás = You are

Está = He is She is You are

Estamos = We are

Están = They are You all are

to be

Present Progressive in Spanish

Forming the Present Participle of –ar verbs

Second,

-ando 2. add the following:

1. drop the ending of the infinitive:

bailar bail

Bailando = Dancing

Forming the Present Participle of –er & -ir verbs

To form the present participle:

-iendo 2. add the following:

1. drop the ending of the infinitive:

comer com

comiendo

Practice with Present Progressive-er verbs

to rain

lloviendo

llover

Está

comer

to eat

Josefina comiendo. está

Irregular Present Progressive using -yendo

¡OJO! (Watch out!)

When the stem of an -er/ir verb ends in a vowel, use yendo.

To form the present participle:

-yendo

1. drop the ending of the infinitive:

leer le

Leer = Leyendo = ReadingCreer = Creyendo = BelievingOír = Oyendo = Hearing

2. add the following:

index

Examples:1. Marcos está leyendo el periódico.

2. Nosotros estamos trabajando

3. ¿Estás comiendo chicharrones?

4. Estoy hablando con Mario.

index