El presente progresivo (The Present Progressive)

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In this section, you will learn about another use of estar: the present progressive. This is a tense commonly used to express what is happening right now, at the exact moment of speaking, for example: ahora estoy mirando esta frase (now I am looking at this sentence). In English the present progressive is formed with the verb “to be” plus the “-ing” form (the gerund) of a second verb, for example, “I am eating.”. Similarly, in Spanish it is formed with the verb estar plus the gerund of a second verb, for example, Yo estoy comiendo. Note that it can also be used to make a general statement about something that is not exactly happening at the very moment, but around it, for example “I am reading a great book”(these days).

In Spanish the gerund is formed by replacing the -ar, -er, -ir endings for -ando (for -ar verbs) and -iendo (for -er and -ir verbs):

estar (present tense) + gerund (gerundio) [–ando/–iendo]

• Estoy estudiando. 📚

• I am studying.

• Estás comiendo. 😋

• You are eating.

• Estamos escribiendo. ✍️

• We are writing.

Note some irregular gerunds with verbs that undergo spelling changes:

• leer → leyendo 📖

• reading

• dormir → durmiendo 😴

• sleeping

• decir → diciendo 💬

• saying

• oír → oyendo 👂

• listening/hearing

Just remember that the simple present tense can also describe actions happening at the moment, for example:

• ¿Qué haces? Leo un libro. 📖

• What are you doing? I read a book = I am reading a book.

• Trabajo en un restaurante. 🍝

• I work in a restaurant = I am working in a restaurant.

When we use the present progressive we are really emphasizing that something is happening right now. For example:

• Canto una canción. ❌

• I sing a song. → Might sound like a general habit, something you do often.

• Estoy cantando una canción. ✅

• I am singing a song right now.

• Vivo en España. ❌

• I live in Spain. → This is permanent.

• Estoy viviendo en España. ✅

• I am living in Spain for now. → Temporary situation, happening at this time and possibly not permanently.

Note: in English, unlike Spanish, the present progressive is also very commonly used to express future plans:

I am traveling to Honduras next year ✅ > Estoy viajando a Honduras el próximo año ❌

I am studying tomorrow ✅ > Estoy estudiando mañana ❌

In the next chapter, you will learn how to express future plans using the verb ir (“to go”).

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