The Present Progressive Tense

To describe in Spanish an action that is taking place as you speak use the present progressive (presente progresivo). To do so: - Use the form of estar (to be) that agrees with the subject + a present participle (gerundio). (-ing in English) - Use the form of estar (to be) that agrees with the subject + a present participle (gerundio). (-ing in English)

¿Qué está haciendo Chela? ¿Qué está haciendo Chela? What is Chela doing right now? What is Chela doing right now? ¿Qué haces Chela? ¿Qué haces Chela? What is Chela doing?(this weekend..tonight etc.) What is Chela doing?(this weekend..tonight etc.)

In Spanish, the present progressive describes an action that is ocurring right now. To describe actions going on in the general present, use the present tense.

Compare the following sentences: Patricia está escribiendo una carta. Patricia está escribiendo una carta. Patricia is writing a letter. (RIGHT NOW.) Patricia is writing a letter. (RIGHT NOW.) Stephen King escribe otra novela. Stephen King escribe otra novela. Stephen King is writing another novel. (THIS YEAR) Stephen King is writing another novel. (THIS YEAR)

ESTAR – to be ESTAR – to beyonosotros túvosotros él/ellaustedellos/asustedes estoy estás está estamos estáis están

To form a present participle: 1. Drop the ending (-ar, -er, ir) from the infinitive. (Leaving the stem.) 1. Drop the ending (-ar, -er, ir) from the infinitive. (Leaving the stem.) 2. Add –ando to the stem of –ar 2. Add –ando to the stem of –ar verbs. verbs. Add –iendo to the stem of –er Add –iendo to the stem of –er or – ir verbs. or – ir verbs. This is the equivalent of the –ing form of the verb in English.

So basically, you are adding – NDO to the verb to make it the equivalent to –ING in English. So basically, you are adding – NDO to the verb to make it the equivalent to –ING in English. For -AR VERBS: For -AR VERBS: For -IR and - ER VERBS: For -IR and - ER VERBS: NDOA IE

 jugar jug + ando jugando  comer com + iendo comiendo  escribir escrib+ iendo escribiendo (playing) (eating) (writing)

Subject + ESTAR + ando iendo Estar will be conjugated to match the subject of the sentence.(gerund never changes Estar will be conjugated to match the subject of the sentence.(gerund never changes Estoy hablando.(I am talking.) Estoy hablando.(I am talking.) Ella está comiendo. (She is eating.) Ella está comiendo. (She is eating.)

 If the stem of an –er or –ir verb ends in a vowel, -iendo changes to –yendo.(i y)  leer  traer  oír leyendo (reading) trayendo(bringing) oyendo (hearing)

The stem vowel of some -ir verbs changes from e i decir decir divertirse divertirse pedir pedir servir servir diciendo divirtiendo pidiendo sirviendo

“-ir” stem-changing verbs The following verbs normally change from e  ie but they will only change from e  i in the past participle. The following verbs normally change from e  ie but they will only change from e  i in the past participle. divertirse divertirse sentirse sentirse preferir preferir

“-ir” stem-changing verbs The following verbs normally change from e  i in the present and the participles. The following verbs normally change from e  i in the present and the participles. decirvestirse decirvestirse pedir pedir repetir repetir seguir seguir

The stem vowel of some -ir verbs changes from e i diciendo divirtiéndose pidiendo sirviendo saying enjoying onself asking for serving

The stem vowel of some -ir verbs changes from o u. dormir dormir morir morir durmiendo muriendo sleeping dying

“-ir” stem-changing verbs The following verbs normally change from o  ue in the present but only o  u in the participle. The following verbs normally change from o  ue in the present but only o  u in the participle. dormir dormir morir morir

Pronouns can either go before “estar” (the conjugated verb) or attached to the participle. Pronouns can either go before “estar” (the conjugated verb) or attached to the participle. ducharse ducharse Me estoy duchando. Me estoy duchando. Estoy duchándome. Estoy duchándome.

I’m doing it. (la tarea) I’m doing it. (la tarea) La estoy haciendo. La estoy haciendo. Estoy haciéndola. Estoy haciéndola. NOTE: When attaching a pronoun you add an accent to the “a” of -ando and the “e” of –iendo. NOTE: When attaching a pronoun you add an accent to the “a” of -ando and the “e” of –iendo.