The Present Progressive Tense The Present Progressive tense

The Present Progressive Tense The Present Progressive tense describes an action that is in progress at the moment you are talking. In English, it is a form of to be followed by a GERUND [Present Participle]. My brothers are playing basketball. I am writing a letter. My sister is eating right now.

In Spanish, you use the appropriate form of ESTAR followed by the Gerund. To form the Gerund, drop the infinitive ending [ -ar, -er, -ir] and add:

-AR verbs -ando -ER verbs -iendo -IR verbs -iendo jugar → jugando comer → comiendo escribir → escribiendo

My brothers are playing basketball. Mis hermanos están jugando básquetbol. I am writing a letter. Estoy escribiendo una carta. My sister is eating right now. Mi hermana está comiendo ahora mismo.

What are you studying? ¿Qué estás estudiando? I am studying the history lesson. Yo estoy estudiando la lección de historia.

What are they doing? ¿Qué están haciendo? We are taking notes. Nosotros estamos tomando apuntes (notas).

There are some verbs that have irregular Present Participles (Gerunds): Decir venir pedir reír (laugh) vestir(dress) diciendo viniendo pidiendo riendo vistiendo

servir preferir sentir(feel) seguir(follow) sirviendo prefiriendo sintiendo siguiendo

reñir (to argue) dormir (sleep) poder (to be able) morir (die) ir leer riñiendo durmiendo pudiendo muriendo yendo leyendo

creer(believe) caer (fall) traer (bring) oír (hear) huir (to flee) creyendo cayendo trayendo oyendo huyendo