Spanish Present Progressive Tense Made Easy
Are you doing your homework right now? Are you eating, talking, watching TV? In Spanish, there’s a special tense just for that — and it’s not the simple present. It’s called the Spanish present progressive (or Spanish present continuous), and it helps you describe actions in progress. Let’s break it down and learn when and how to use it like a native speaker.
Table of Contents
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What Is the Spanish Present Progressive Tense?
The Spanish present progressive tense is used to talk about actions happening at this very moment. It’s made up of two parts:
- The present tense of the verb estar (to be)
- A present participle (similar to English verbs ending in -ing)
It’s the equivalent of saying “I am speaking,” “you are reading,” or “we are dancing.” For example:
- Estoy hablando con mi mamá.
I am talking to my mom. - Están comiendo pizza.
They are eating pizza.
This tense focuses on what is happening right now, as opposed to what happens in general.
When to Use the Present Continuous in Spanish
The Spanish present progressive or continuous is used in three main contexts: actions happening at the moment of speaking, temporary actions that are not habitual, and repeated actions perceived as irritating. Let's look at each one.
Actions Happening Right Now
Use the Spanish present progressive to describe actions that are in progress at the time of speaking — what someone is doing right now. Some common time markers include ahora, ahora mismo, and en este momento.
Examples
- ¿Qué estás haciendo?
What are you doing? - Estoy mirando la televisión.
I’m watching TV. - Estamos comiendo en este momento.
We are eating right now.
Temporary but Non-Habitual Actions
Use the Spanish present progressive for actions that are happening temporarily, even if they aren’t happening right at the moment. This works well for jobs, living situations, or temporary habits.
Examples
- Normalmente trabajo en Uruguay, pero este mes estoy trabajando en Chile.
I usually work in Uruguay, but this month I’m working in Chile. - Duermo mal, pero últimamente estoy durmiendo como un bebé.
I sleep badly, but lately I’ve been sleeping like a baby.
Time expressions that suggest temporary action include hoy, este mes, and últimamente.
Repetitive or Annoying Actions
The Spanish present progressive tense is also used to highlight actions that happen repeatedly and are seen as annoying. In English, this often involves “always” (You’re always yelling!) — Spanish does the same.
Examples
- ¡Estás hablando todo el día por teléfono!
You’ve been talking on the phone all day! - Siempre estás dejando tus cosas tiradas.
You’re always leaving your stuff around.
Common expressions in this context: siempre, todo el tiempo, a todas horas, todo el día.
How to Form the Present Progressive in Spanish
The Spanish present progressive is built in two steps:
- Conjugate estar in the present tense
- Add the present participle of the main verb
Let’s go over both parts.
Present Tense Forms of Estar
| Subject | Form of Estar |
| Yo | estoy |
| Tú
|
estás |
| Él / Ella / Usted | está |
| Nosotros/as | estamos |
| Vosotros/as | estáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | están |
Each form agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Example
- Nosotros estamos escribiendo un artículo.
We are writing an article.
How to Form Regular Present Participles
To create a present participle:
- For -ar verbs, drop -ar and add -ando
- For -er and -ir verbs, drop the ending and add -iendo
Examples
- cantar → cantando (singing)
- comer → comiendo (eating)
- vivir → viviendo (living)
These participles act like English -ing forms.
Irregular Present Participles
Some verbs have irregular participles that must be memorized. These include stem-changing and spelling-change verbs.
Common Irregulars
- leer → leyendo (reading)
- oír → oyendo (hearing)
- dormir → durmiendo (sleeping)
- morir → muriendo (dying)
Example
- Mi hermano está durmiendo.
My brother is sleeping.
How to Form Negative Sentences
To make a sentence negative in the present progressive, place “no” directly before the conjugated form of estar. The structure remains the same — estar plus the present participle — but with the word no in front.
Position of “No” in the Sentence
The negative particle no goes before estar, not between estar and the present participle.
Correct:
- No estoy haciendo nada malo.
I’m not doing anything wrong.
Incorrect:
- Estoy no haciendo nada malo. ❌
The same rule applies to any other negative expression (nunca, nadie, etc.), which always comes before estar.
Examples
- No estamos estudiando para el examen.
We’re not studying for the exam. - Ella no está diciendo la verdad.
She’s not telling the truth.
Other Negative Words in Context
You can use words like nada, nunca, and nadie after the participle for extra emphasis or clarity.
Examples
- No estoy viendo nada.
I’m not watching anything. - No están hablando con nadie.
They’re not speaking with anyone.
How to Form Questions
To form questions in the present progressive, you follow the same structure as in statements, but with two possible formats: using a question word or intonation.
Yes/No Questions Using Intonation
For simple yes/no questions, keep the word order the same as a statement and raise the pitch at the end of the sentence.
Example
- ¿Estás trabajando?
Are you working?
In English, auxiliary verbs like do or does are added when forming questions (e.g., Do you work? instead of the statement You work). Spanish does not add an extra word like this. The verb itself expresses the question when paired with rising intonation.
More examples
- ¿Están comiendo?
Are they eating? - ¿Estamos esperando mucho?
Are we waiting long?
Information Questions with Interrogatives
When asking about what, where, or why someone is doing something, begin the sentence with a question word like qué (what), dónde (where), or por qué (why).
Examples
- ¿Qué estás haciendo?
What are you doing? - ¿Dónde están viviendo ahora?
Where are they living now? - ¿Por qué estás llorando?
Why are you crying?
Mastering the Spanish present progressive tense is a key step toward speaking more naturally and confidently. Whether you're describing what you're doing right now, explaining temporary situations, or expressing frustration at someone’s habits — this tense helps bring your Spanish to life.
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