Present Progressive Tense
Unit 3, Etapa 3
Present Progressive in English
This verb tense used to say that an action is
happening now.
In English, we use
1. the present tense of “to be” plus
2. the present participle which ends in -ing.
I am reading.
Present Progressive in Spanish
First, use the present tense of “estar” as the helping verb.
to be
estar = ___________
Estoy = I am
Estamos = We are
Estás = You are
Está = He is
She is
You are
Están = They are
You all are
Forming the Present Participle of
–ar verbs
Second,
1. drop the ending of the infinitive:
bailar
2. add the following:
bail
-ando
Bailando = Dancing
Forming the Present Participle of
–er & -ir verbs
To form the present participle:
1. drop the ending of the infinitive:
comer
com
2. add the following:
-iendo
comiendo
Practice with Present Progressive
-er verbs
llover
to rain
Está lloviendo
comer
to eat
Josefina está comiendo.
Irregular Present Progressive
using -yendo
¡OJO! (Watch out!)
When the stem of an -er/ir verb ends in a vowel, use yendo.
To form the present participle:
1. drop the ending of the infinitive:
le
leer
2. add the following:
-yendo
Leer = Leyendo = Reading
Creer = Creyendo = Believing
Oír = Oyendo = Hearing
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Examples:
1. Marcos está leyendo el periódico.
2. Nosotros estamos trabajando
3. ¿Estás comiendo chicharrones?
4. Estoy hablando con Mario.
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