Both Spanish and English use the present

progressive, which consists of the present

tense of the verb to be and the present
participle (the –ing form in English).

Los chicos están jugando. Estoy haciendo las maletas.

The kids are playing. I am packing.

Los turistas están ¿Estás mirando la televisión?

acampando.
The tourists are camping. Are you watching TV?
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 Form the present progressive with the present
tense of estar and a present participle.

ESTAR + PRESENT PARTICIPLE ESTAR + PRESENT PARTICIPLE

Están cantando. Estoy comiendo.
They are singing. I am eating.
Estamos esperando. Ella está trabajando.
We are waiting. She is working.

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 The present participle of regular verbs is
formed as follows:

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 When the stem of an –er or –ir verb ends
in a vowel, the present participle ends in
–yendo.

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Irregular present participles
The verbs ir, poder, and venir have irregular
present participles (yendo, pudiendo,
viniendo). Several other verbs have irregular
present participles.

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Irregular present participles (cont’d)

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 Using the present progressive
The present progressive is used less in
Spanish than in English. In Spanish, the
present progressive emphasizes that an
action is in progress.

Ella todavía está Javier está estudiando

escuchando música. ahora mismo.
She is still listening to music. Javier is studying right now.

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 Using the present progressive (cont’d)
In English, the present progressive is used with
actions that occur over time or in the future. In
Spanish, the simple present tense is used.

Tomo inglés este semestre. Salgo hoy a las tres.

I’m taking English this semester. I’m leaving today at three.

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