Español Uno
LOS PROGRESIVOS
When do I use a PROGRESSIVE tense?
When you want to emphasize that the action is not commonplace, but occurring at a particular time.
You know by now that when we are conjugating on the present tense, you’d remember that the form also refers to the
present tense (I speak), the simple future tense (I will speak), and what’s referred to as the present progressive (I
am speaking). However, in just about all situations, the Spanish language has verb tenses to fit all circumstances…one
of these is the progressive. In addition, the progressive can also take many forms: like present progressive, past
progressive, future progressive…just change the conjugation of the verb ‘estar’ and not the ending.
In English, we use the present progressive more that we realize. Things like, “I’m doing my homework”
or “I’m going to the store” are used very often. And we say the same thing in Spanish. As in the English
language, progressives are used to show that actions are occurring at a particular moment.
Regular Formation:
1. Take a form of the verb ‘estar’ (because the action is occurring as we speak, so we
believe that the action may end).
2. Look at what you say you are doing: reading, going, flying. This is referred to as the
present participle / gerund in English. Simply, it’s usually the part with –ing attached
to it. Example: I am studying. Recognize the infinitive form (estudiar).
3. If the verb ends in (see chart below). This forms the present participle of gerund.
PRESENT
PARTICIPLE
FORMATION
Example:
-AR VERBS take the stem of the verb and add -ando
-ER VERBS take the stem of the verb and add - iendo
-IR VERBS take the stem of the verb and add - iendo
I am studying
BJ is eating dinner.
They are living in Athol!
Estoy estudiando.
BJ está comiendo la cena.
Están viviendo en Athol.
Irregulars:
One of the nicest things about using the progressive is that there are a
few irregulars and they are easy to identify. Here is one category:
1. Vowel-ending stems: If, when you take the stem of the verb,
and the last letter in the stem is a vowel, then the verb is slightly
irregular in the present participle / gerund. There are no irregular
-ar verbs in the tense, so if the –er or –ir stem ends in a vowel,
simply add –yendo.
2. GENERAL RULE OF SPANISH #7: An unaccented ‘i’ between
any two vowels becomes a ‘y’ to maintain sound.
Example:
Common
Irregular
Present
Participles
We are reading this paper.
caer
leer
traer
construir
Note This:
Note that the title of the tense is the
Present Progressive (can be Past
Progressive…). The title of the
tense has two words. Any tense in
Spanish that has two words in the
title will require two words in the
conjugation. This is just a hint for
all COMPOUND TENSES.
Estamos leyendo este papel.
huir
oír
ir
destruir
A. Try to translate the following sentences into the present progressive tense.
1. I am studying Spanish.
2. We are counting the money.
3. We are not reading anything.
4. She is not hearing anything.