CIU: Gramática Lesson - Presente Progresivo

Gramática - Presente Progresivo

Let's begin by reviewing present participles in Spanish. Whereas in English we form present participles by using -ing endings, in Spanish we will add -ando to the stem of -ar verbs and -iendo to the stem of both -er and -ir verbs.

Forming the Present Participle in Spanish
Infinitive Ending Present Participle
hablar
comer
vivir		 -ando
-iendo
-iendo		 hablando
comiendo
viviendo

El Presente Progressivo

If the action we're referring to is happening now (in the present), we use the presente progresivo (present progressive). To form the present progressive, simply use a present tense conjugation of estar with a present participle:

El Presente Progressivo Formation
Conjugation of Estar Add the Following
estoy
estás
está		 estamos
estáis
están		 + Present Participle

Examples

  • Estoy comiendo.
    • I am eating.
  • Estás leyendo.
    • I am reading.
  • Ellos están mirando la televisión.
    • They are watching television.

Pronoun Placement

It's worth noting at this point that if you have an object pronoun of any sort (reflexive, direct, or indirect), you have two options as to where to put it.

  • You may put it in front of your conjugation of estar:
    • Me estoy afeitando. - I am shaving (myself).
  • You may attach it to the end of your present participle.
    • Estoy afeitándome. - I am shaving (myself).
      • OR
    • Yo estoy afeitándome. - I am shaving (myself). 
      • Notes:
        • You do not have to use the subject pronoun (yo, in this example), and in fact it is more common with the conjugation of estar to not use it, since the conjugation provides the who (subject) in its ending.
        • Attaching an object pronoun will require adding an accent mark to preserve the original stress.

Either way is perfectly acceptable and your sentence will mean exactly the same thing.

Note: To form a negative, place no in front of the form of estar:

  • No estoy comiendo. - I am not eating.

Video Presentation

View the presentation below to review present progressive uses and conjugation rules. Take notes as you view the material as you will be responsible for the content. Be sure your speakers are turned up!

Practice Activity

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