1. UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLÓGICA DEL ESTADO DE
ZACATECAS
JUAN PEDRO ALBINO CALDERÓN
Presentprogressiveforms and uses {Beta}
Overview
Thepresentprogressive tense combines thepresentindicative of theverb estar (to be)
withthepresentparticiple of anotherverbtoindicateanaction in progress.
Thepresentprogressivetellswhat a person "isdoing" rightnow.
•Estoy hablando con mi madre. (I am speakingwithmymother (rightnow).)
•Los niños están jugando en el patio. (Thechildren are playing in theyard (rightnow).)
•¿Estás yendo a la tienda ahora? (Are yougoingtothe store now?)
Thepresentparticipleneverchangesaccordingtothe tense. Theprogressive tense can be used in any
time referencesimplybychangingthe tense of estar, creatingthepresentprogressive,
preteriteprogressive, theimperfectprogressive, thefutureprogressive, etc.
Thisarticleexplainshowtoform and whento use thepresentprogressive tense.
PresentProgressiveForms
Thepresentprogressiveis a verbphraseconsisting of both estar (the "is" partwhichindicatesthe
tense) and thepresentparticiple (the "-ing" partwhichindicateswhattheactionis).
Toformthepresentprogressive, conjugate estar tothepresentindicative tense and
addthepresentparticipleform of theverbthatthepersonisactuallydoing.

2. PresentProgressive Formula: estar + presentparticiple (verbstem + -ando for -arverbs/-iendofor -er
and -ir verbs)
Estoy hablando I am speaking Estamos hablando We are speaking
Estás hablando You are speaking Estáis hablando You (all) are speaking
Está hablando You (formal) are speaking
He/sheisspeaking Están hablando You (all, formal) are speaking
They are speaking
PresentProgressive Uses
Single CurrentActions
Simply, what a personisdoingrightnow, and actionthey are currentlyparticipating in.
•Está escribiendo un ensayo para su clase de español. (He iswritinganessayforhisSpanishclass.)
•Estamos cocinando la cena. (We are cookingdinner (rightnow).)
•Están durmiendo en el dormitorio pequeño. (They are sleeping in thesmallbedroom (rightnow).)
In English and Spanish, thisisusuallyexpressedusingthepresentprogressive, butitispossibleto use
thepresent tense in Spanish as well.

3. •¿Qué haces? (What are youdoing?)
•Limpio la cocina. (I'mcleaningthekitchen.)
•¿Cómo estás? (How are youdoing?)
•Estoy bien, gracias. (I´mdoingwell, thankyou.)