El Presente Progresivo

Present Continuous (progressive)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2023-08-09

El Presente Progresivo also known as El Presente Continuo

El Presente Progresivo describes a present action that is in progress at the moment of the discourse. In English this tense is called the present continuous (progressive).

This is how to form El Presente Progresivo:

estar [in the present tense] + gerund of second verb
Look at and listen to these examples: 
Yo estoy hablando con mi madre.I am talking with my mother.

Tú estás corriendo la maratón.You are running the marathon.

Ella está aprendiendo a cocinar.She is learning how to cook.

Nosotros estamos cantando.We are singing.

See also: Spanish Present Tenses and All Spanish Tenses

Lessons with more detail on El Presente Progresivo

Forming the present progressive/continuous in Spanish with estar + present participle (El Presente Progresivo)
Using the Spanish present progressive/continuous instead of the present (El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente)
Forming regular gerunds in Spanish (-ing form)
Forming irregular gerunds in Spanish (-ing form)
Using the Spanish near future (not the present progressive) for future arrangements
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