| The Spanish present progressive, or present
continuous, is very similar to its English counterpart (to be + -ing). In
both languages, the present progressive expresses an in-progress action,
with an emphasis on its current, temporary aspect. |
| |
|
| No estamos mirando la televisión. |
We're not watching television. |
| Estoy trabajando; no puedo salir. |
I'm working; I can't go out. |
| ¿Por qué no estás haciendo caso del profesor? |
Why aren't you paying attention to the teacher? |
| |
|
| The Spanish present progressive is usually formed with the
present tense of estar +
gerund of the action verb. |
| |
| |
Estoy leyendo |
I am reading |
| |
Estás hablando |
You are speaking |
| |
Está llorando |
He is crying |
| |
| There are five other verbs which can replace estar
and add a different nuance to the present progressive: |
| |
|
andar |
to be (in the process of) doing something |
|
Anda buscando sus llaves. |
He's looking for his keys. |
| |
| ir |
to start/be gradually doing something |
|
Voy comprendiendo la verdad. |
I'm starting to understand the truth. |
| |
|
llevar |
to have been doing something (English present perfect
progressive) |
|
Llevo dos años trabajando aquí. |
I've been working here for two years. |
| |
| seguir |
to go on/keep/continue doing something |
|
Sigue lloviendo. |
It's still raining. |
| |
| venir |
to have been doing something (English present perfect
progressive) |
|
Es lo que vengo diciendo. |
That's what I've been saying. |
| |
|
Progressive Tenses with Object Pronouns
Compound Tenses
Spanish verbs
|
Spanish Present Progressive ~ Present
Continuous
