The Present Progressive

Remember we use the present tense to talk about an action that regularly takes place, or that is happening right now.

ejemplo: Marta lava los platos.

Marta washes the dishes.Marta is washing the dishes.

When you want to EMPHASIZE that an action is happing right now, you use the present progressive tense.

ejemplo: Marta está lavando los platos.

Marta is washing the dishes.

How to do it…

the present tense forms of estar

+

the present participle

___________________________

the present progressive tense

Let’s review estar…

(ellos/ellas, Uds.) están

(él/ella, Ud.) está

(vosotros) estáis(tú) estás

(nosotros) estamos(yo) estoy

Let’s talk about the present participle… The present participle is formed by

dropping the ending of the infinitive and adding…

-ando = -ar verbs

-iendo = -er/ -ir verbs

What would the present participle of these verbs be?

1. escuchar

2. manejar

3. lavar

4. correr

5. escribir

escuchando

manejando

lavando

corriendo

escribiendo

Let’s practice…Please put these sentences in the present progressive tense.

1. Carlos is studying.Carlos está estudiando.

2. I am talking on the phone.Estoy hablando por teléfono.

3. We are memorizing vocab. Estamos aprendiendo de memoria el vocabulario.4. They are listening to music. Están escuchando música.

The Present Progressive

Irregular Present Participles

Irregular present participle forms…

-ir stem-changing verbs

1. decir

2. pedir

3. repetir

4. seguir

5. servir

What happens?

The e in the infinitive changes to i!

diciendo

pidiendo

repitiendo

siguiendo

sirviendo

Irregular present participle forms…

-ir stem-changing verbs

1. dormir

2. morir

What happens?

The o in the infinitive changes to u!

durmiendo

muriendo

Irregular present participle forms…

-er stem-changing verbs

1. creer

2. leer

3. traer

What happens?

The i of –iendo changes to y!

creyendo

leyendo

trayendo

Let’s practice…Please put these sentences in the present progressive tense.

1. Carmen is sleeping.Carmen está durmiendo.

2. We are getting dressed.Estamos vistiendo.

3. The teacher is repeating the homework. El profesor está repitiendo la tarea.4. You (fam.) are reading my favorite book.

Tú estás leyendo mi libro favorito.5. The girls are bringing salads.

Las chicas están trayendo ensaladas.