The Present Progressive
When you want to emphasize that an action is happening right now, you use the present progressive tense.
Paco está lavando los platos. Paco is washing the dishes (now).
Estoy haciendo la cama. I'm making the bed (right now).
To form the present progressive tense, use the present-tense forms of estar + the present participle. The present participle is formed by dropping the ending of the infinitive and adding -ando for -ar verbs or -iendo for -er and -ir verbs.
Paco está lavando los platos. Paco is washing the dishes (now).
Estoy haciendo la cama. I'm making the bed (right now).
To form the present progressive tense, use the present-tense forms of estar + the present participle. The present participle is formed by dropping the ending of the infinitive and adding -ando for -ar verbs or -iendo for -er and -ir verbs.
As you can see in this description below, the present progressive is used to indicate an activity that is happening at the moment of speaking (the present moment).
This tense is formed using the verb "to be," an auxiliary verb, and the gerund (-ing).
This tense is formed using the verb "to be," an auxiliary verb, and the gerund (-ing).
In simple terms, here is the structure:
Estar (conjugated for the subject) + verb + -ando or -iendo
Example Sentences:
Están haciendo sus quehaceres. They are doing their chores.
Estamos jugando videojuegos. We are playing video games.
Estoy escribiendo un cuento. I'm writing a story.
Estás comiendo una galleta. You're eating a cookie.
**You can easily make any of these sentences negative by placing "no" in front of the form of estar.
No estoy trabajando hoy. I'm not working today.
Estar (conjugated for the subject) + verb + -ando or -iendo
Example Sentences:
Están haciendo sus quehaceres. They are doing their chores.
Estamos jugando videojuegos. We are playing video games.
Estoy escribiendo un cuento. I'm writing a story.
Estás comiendo una galleta. You're eating a cookie.
**You can easily make any of these sentences negative by placing "no" in front of the form of estar.
No estoy trabajando hoy. I'm not working today.
**OJO: THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS! MOST OF THESE ARE IN LINE WITH IRREGULAR STEM CHANGERS: ( O --> U), (E --> I), OR ADDING "Y". IRREGULAR SPELLING IN THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE:
LEYENDO LEER
TRAYENDO TRAER CREYENDO CREER CONSTRUYENDO CONSTRUIR YENDO IR HUYENDO HUIR INFLUYENDO INFLUIR RIENDO REIR SONRIENDO SONREIR DESTUYENDO DESTRUIR INCLUYENDO INCLUIR OYENDO OIR CAYENDO CAER DICIENDO DECIR DURMIENDO DORMIR MURIENDO MORIR PIDIENDO PEDIR SIGUIENDO SEGUIR REPITIENDO REPETIR |
SIRVIENDO SERVIR
SINTIENDO SENTIR PREFIRIENDO PREFERIR REQUIRIENDO REQUERIR VINIENDO VENIR VISTIENDO VESTIR DESPIDIENDO DESPEDIR DIVIRTIENDO DIVERTIR SUGIRIENDO SUGERIR *if these seem hard to memorize, check out this site that charts the verbs together according to their similarities* *if you would like extra practice with these and similar irregulars, click here to practice with flashcards!* |
I. Practice Exercise:
A veces no podemos hacer los quehaceres porque estamos haciendo otras cosas. Para cada foto, dar una excusa explicando porque no puedes hacer el quehacer.
Por ejemplo:
1) Yo...
A veces no podemos hacer los quehaceres porque estamos haciendo otras cosas. Para cada foto, dar una excusa explicando porque no puedes hacer el quehacer.
Por ejemplo:
1) Yo...
1). Yo no puedo doblar la ropa porque estoy trabajando en la computadora.
1). I can't fold the clothes because I'm working on the computer.
1). I can't fold the clothes because I'm working on the computer.
Use the subject that I provide for you:
1. Carlos...
2. Lupe...
3. Gustavo e Ivan...
4. Nosotras...
5.Yo...
6. Tú...
II. Las Respuestas (Sample Answers, Click Here!)
You'll have the same present progressive verbs and vocabulary for the first part, but a different excuse than mine!
III. This video is catchy and reinforces a lot of common verbs that we will use in the present progressive! How many can you pick out?
1. Carlos...
2. Lupe...
3. Gustavo e Ivan...
4. Nosotras...
5.Yo...
6. Tú...
II. Las Respuestas (Sample Answers, Click Here!)
You'll have the same present progressive verbs and vocabulary for the first part, but a different excuse than mine!
III. This video is catchy and reinforces a lot of common verbs that we will use in the present progressive! How many can you pick out?
IV. ** I would suggest playing this Jeopardy game to self-assess your understanding of the present progressive!**
V. **If you're interested in some more instant feedback and practice, you could check out this interactive game: Hangman (with the Present Progressive)