Describe what you are doing in this exact moment

We use the present progressive to describe actions we are currently doing at this exact moment in time.

“¿Qué estás haciendo?” “Estoy estudiando.” Photo by Kyle Gregory Devaras on Unsplash

The Present tense is used to speak about habits and routines, but we don't use it to talk about what we are doing right now, at this exact moment. This is where the “Present Progressive” comes into play. It is used to describe what we are doing at a precise moment in time. For example, if I am in the middle of washing dishes and somebody asks me what I am doing, I would say I am washing dishes, as that is what we are doing at that exact moment.

It can also describe a broader present that isn’t a general description. For example, someone can ask, “What are you doing in Buenos Aires?” And I would answer, “I am studying Spanish.” It isn’t a general description; it describes an action I am doing precisely in the broader present.

To create this in Spanish, we use the verb ESTAR (I AM) + The Verb with a structure called the “Gerund.”

ESTAR in Present + Gerund

Yo Estoy

Vos/tu Estás + Cantar=Cantando (singing)

Ud./Él/Ella Está + Comer= Comiendo (eating)

Nosotros-as Estamos + Salir= Saliendo (Going out)

Ustedes/Ellos-as Están

GERUNDS

As you can see, we drop the ending of each verb and add: For verbs ending in AR = ANDO

For verbs ending in ER or IR =IENDO

There are some irregular Gerunds:

If we have a verb that in present changes O to UE, in gerund it would only change O to U if its ending is IR (but not AR-ER). Examples: costando, durmiendo.

If we have a verb that in present changes E to IE, in gerund, it would only change E to I if its ending is IR (but not ER-AR). Examples: pensando, queriendo, mintiendo.

If we have a verb that in present changes E to I, in gerund, it would change E by I. Examples: pidiendo, sirviendo

Also, the verbs with the ending –uir always form the gerund with –yendo.

Some Common Irregular Verbs:

• Dormir: Durmiendo

• Leer: Leyendo

• Creer: Creyendo

• Construir: Construyendo

• Distribuir: Distribuyendo

• Destruir: Destruyendo (all the verbs with ending – UIR=yendo)

• Ir=Yendo

• Caer=Cayendo

• Pedir=Pidiendo

• Servir=sirviendo

Let's take a look at some examples:

1. “Sole, es tarde ¿qué estás haciendo?” (Sole, it is late, what are you doing?)

2. “Ya voy, me estoy maquillando”. (I will be right there, I am putting on makeup.)

*Or you can say: “estoy maquillándome” In this case, we have a reflexive verb “maquillarse”. You can put the pronoun before or after the structure, but never in the middle.

But: estoy me maquillando. X

• “José y Anabella están comprando bebidas. Van a llegar en 5 minutos” (José and Anabella are buying drinks. They are going to arrive in 5 minutes.)

We also use the Present Progressive with things we are doing lately but not habits.

• “Estamos construyendo una casa enfrente del mar” (We are building a house in front of the sea.)

• “No estoy yendo mucho al gimnasio, porque tengo mucho trabajo.”( I’m not going to the gym that much, because I have a lot of work.)

• “Me encontré con Julieta el otro día. Me dijo que está haciendo un curso de negocios.” (I met Juliet the other day. She said he is doing a business course.)

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