Present Progressive Tense in Spanish

Están cruzando la calle.

Are you learning Spanish? One of the most useful tenses you’ll come across is the present progressive tense (also called the present continuous). This tense is used when you want to describe an action that is happening right now. But there are some secrets to this. Check this out!

How It Works

The present progressive in Spanish is formed with two parts:

1. The verb estar (to be) goes first, conjugated in the present tense.

2. Place the gerund form of the verb of the action that is happening at that precise moment.

The structure looks like this:        

[estar] + [gerund verb]

Building the verb in gerund

For most verbs, you form the verb in gerund by:

• Replacing -ar with -ando

• Replacing -er or -ir with -iendo

Verbs ending in -ar	Verbs ending in -er or -ir
-ando	-iendo

Examples:

• hablar → hablando (speaking)

• comer → comiendo (eating)

• vivir → viviendo (living)

Let’s look at them in context

• Estoy estudiando español. (I am studying Spanish.)

• ¿Qué estás haciendo? (What are you doing?)

• Mis amigos están comiendo en el restaurante. (My friends are eating in the restaurant.)

• Estamos viviendo en Madrid este año. (We are living in Madrid this year.)

  
  

A very important note

Unlike in English, the Spanish present progressive is only used for actions happening right now.

If you want to talk about the near future (e.g. I am travelling tomorrow), in Spanish we usually use the present tense or ir + a + infinitive instead.

Let’s remember

• Use estar + gerund to talk about what’s happening right now.

• Gerund verbs end in -ando (-ar verbs) or -iendo (-er/-ir verbs).

• Keep in mind: it’s not used as often as the English “-ing” form.

Keen on practising?

Try conjugating these verbs in the present progressive.

Remember you must use two verbs. Which ones are they?

Estudiar

Ver

Comprar

Hablar

Buscar

Beber

Pensar

Escribir

Escuchar

Discutir

Can you add the verbs missing in Spanish?

1. Ellos ______  _________ la tarea. → They are writing the homework.

2. ¿Qué ______  _________ ahora? → What are you studying right now?

3. ______  _________ la cena. → We are cooking dinner.

4. Mi hermano _____  ________ una pizza. → My brother is eating a pizza.

5. ______  _________ al trabajo. → I am walking to work.

6. ______  _________ por teléfono. → She is talking on the phone.

7. Mis amigos ______  _________ por Europa. → My friends are travelling around Europe.