The progressive tense in Spanish, also called the continuous tense, is used to describe actions that are happening right now or are in progress. It’s formed by combining two parts: the verb “estar” (to be) and the gerund of the main verb.
Structure
The basic structure is:
conjugated form of estar + gerund of the main verb
Forming the Gerund
The gerund is formed differently depending on the verb ending:
- For -ar verbs: Replace -ar with -ando Example: hablar → hablando (speaking)
- For -er and -ir verbs: Replace -er/-ir with -iendo Examples:
- comer → comiendo (eating)
- vivir → viviendo (living)
Irregular Gerunds
Some verbs have irregular gerunds:
- ir → yendo (going)
- leer → leyendo (reading)
- traer → trayendo (bringing)
Conjugating estar
“Estar” is conjugated in the appropriate tense and person to match the subject and time frame of the action.
Present Tense Example
| Subject | Estar | Gerund | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy | hablando | I am speaking |
| Tú | estás | comiendo | You are eating |
| Él/Ella/Usted | está | viviendo | He/She/You(formal) is living |
| Nosotros/as | estamos | trabajando | We are working |
| Vosotros/as | estáis | estudiando | You all are studying |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | están | escribiendo | They/You all are writing |
Examples in Different Tenses
- Present Progressive:
- Estoy cocinando la cena. (I am cooking dinner.)
- Past Progressive:
- Estaba leyendo cuando me llamaste. (I was reading when you called me.)
- Future Progressive:
- Estaré viajando todo el mes que viene. (I will be traveling all next month.)
- Present Perfect Progressive:
- He estado estudiando español durante dos años. (I have been studying Spanish for two years.)
- Conditional Progressive:
- Estaría durmiendo si no fuera por el ruido. (I would be sleeping if it weren’t for the noise.)
Usage Notes
- The progressive tense emphasizes that an action is ongoing.
- It can be used with time expressions like “ahora” (now), “en este momento” (at this moment), or “todavía” (still).
- Some verbs are rarely used in the progressive form, such as “ser” (to be), “tener” (to have), and “saber” (to know).
By mastering the formation and use of the progressive tense, you can describe actions in progress more accurately and add nuance to your Spanish skills.
- Find detailed information about the formation of the gerund in Latin American Spanish here.
- Find detailed information about the formation of the gerund in Castilian Spanish here.