Español 30

Lección Estructuras Práctica

The Present Progressive

In the story you just read, Alberto talks about what all of his family members are doing.

Voy al baño pero mi hermana mayor, Ariana, se está duchando. La escucho. Está cantando mientras se está lavando el pelo.

The highlighted verbs are present progressive verbs. The present progressive describes the verb tense that emphasizes that an action is currently taking place as we speak. In Spanish, the present progressive is constructed by using the verb estar. Make sure you know how the present progressive works so you are able to use it.


Estar
yo estoy nosotros, nosotras estamos
tú estás vosotros, vosotras estáis
él, ella, usted está ellos, ellas, ustedes están

Next, we will use the present participle, which is formed by ending a verb with -ando or -iendo.

  1. -ar verbs will end in -ando.

  2. -er verbs and -ir verbs will both end in -iendo.

Here are some examples of Present Participles.


-ar verb Present Participle -er/-ir verb Present Participle
cantar cantando correr corriendo
molestar molestando beber bebiendo
preparar preparando comer comiendo
explicar explicando abrir abriendo
mirar mirando vivir viviendo


E to I O to U
venir viniendo dormir durmiendo
sentir sintiendo morir muriendo
decir diciendo

Spelling changes

There are a few present participles with spelling changes. These spelling changes occur so that the spelling agrees with the way the word is pronounced. It is important that you know these verbs.

Here are some examples:

  • caer: cayendo

  • creer: creyendo

  • leer: leyendo

  • oír: oyendo

  • seguir: siguiendo

  • traer: trayendo


    Note that the present participle for the verb "ir" is "yendo". However, "estar yendo" is not normally used by Spanish speakers to mean "to be going..." in English.

  •  I am going home. = Voy a casa.   

  • I am going to the park. = Voy al parque.


Here are some examples of Present Participles with reflexive verbs

You make no changes to the construction of the present progressive. Just simply put your reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb, or attach it to the present participle.

Here are some examples:

  • ducharse: Ella se está duchando OR Ella está duchándose*.

  • lavarse: Yo me estoy lavando. OR Yo estoy lavándome*.

  • meterse: Tú te estás metiendo en el carro. OR Tú estás metiéndote* en el carro.

*Note how the word has an accent when the reflexive pronoun is attached to the Present Participles.


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