Present Progressive
Tense Notes
To form the present progressive, conjugate the verb estar to agree with
the subject of the sentence, and follow it with the present participle.
Yo estoy
Tú estás
Él está
Nosotros estamos
Ellos están
The present participle is the English "-ing" form of a verb.
How to form the present participle of regular verbs:
1: drop the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir)
2: add –ando for –ar verbs and –iendo for –er/-ir verbs
Let’s practice conjugating to the
present participle.
-ar verbs
 Hablar
hablando
 Cantar
cantando
 Trabajar
trabajando
-er, -ir verbs
 Comer
comiendo
 Beber
bebiendo
 Compartir
compartiendo
Now we form the present progressive by
using the verb “estar” followed by the
participle.
Ex:
I am talking
He is eating
Yo estoy hablando.
Él está comiendo
When to use it


In English, present progressive can be used to describe
what is happening now, or what will happen in the
future.
I
am studying now.
I
am studying with María tonight.
In Spanish, the present progressive is only used to
describe an action that is in the process of taking
place. It is not used for future actions.
I
I
am studying now.(use present progressive)
am studying with María tonight.
(do not use present progressive)
IMPERFECT PROGRESSIVE
Use the imperfect progressive to say what someone
was doing. Use the verb “estar” in the imperfect
followed by the participle.
Yo estaba
Tú estabas
Él estaba
I was talking.
He was eating.
Nosotros estábamos
Ellos estaban
Yo estaba hablando.
Él estaba comiendo.
Ella
Marcos
Yo
Ellas
Nosotros
Ellos