Confused about multiple uses of the present tense

Question

Hello,

There have been a number of questions in different topic areas along the lines of “Why don’t we use the present progressive tense for such and such an example in Spanish when the English translation is in the present progressive tense?” An example might be “Compro unas playeras” being translated as “I am buying some t-shirts”.

The answer that the instructors give is usually along the lines of, the Spanish present tense can often be translated as the present progressive tense in English.

In addition, I rarely hear the present progressive tense being used from day to day here in Mexico. Google AI agrees with me:

"In Mexican Spanish, the present indicative (voy) is significantly more common for everyday use than the present progressive (estoy yendo). While both can describe actions happening in the moment, the simple present is the "default" choice in most social contexts."

In the kwiz questions I keep answering using the present tense, just out of habit. It's not that I don't know how to use the present progressive tense, it's just that I'm not used to hearing it. This habiit is so strong that sometimes I even miss the instructions.

So maybe the present tense answers shouldn't always be marked wrong, and trigger words such as "en este momento" should be used more often? Also, maybe this idea could be added to the above lesson.

PS You may wonder why I'm studying level A1 if I already speak Spanish daily. It is because I want to strengthen my foundation and in general Kwiziq has been invaluable with this.

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Marcos R.
You’re absolutely right in what you’re observing, and your explanation is actually very accurate. In Spanish, the simple present (presente) is very often used to describe actions happening right now, even when English would naturally use the present progressive. That’s why sentences like “Compro unas playeras” can perfectly translate to “I’m buying some T-shirts” in everyday speech. As you’ve noticed in Mexico (and in many other varieties of Spanish), this is the most common and natural choice in daily conversation.
The present progressive (estar + gerundio) certainly exists and is correct, but it’s more marked. It’s typically used when the speaker wants to emphasize that the action is happening at this precise moment, is temporary, or contrasts with something else. This is why you’ll often see time markers like “en este momento”, “ahora mismo”, or a very clear situational context when the progressive is required or strongly preferred.
Regarding the exercises, the goal of that lesson is to help learners recognize when Spanish uses the progressive and when it doesn’t, especially compared to English. In contexts where the progressive meaning is clearly intended or explicitly signaled, the present tense may be marked incorrect to reinforce that distinction. That said, your point is valid: in many real-life situations, both forms are possible, and the simple present is often the more natural option.
Your suggestion about using clearer triggers and reinforcing this idea in the lesson is a good one, and we’ll definitely take that feedback into account. And it makes complete sense that, given your daily exposure to Spanish, your instinct is to default to the present tense — that’s exactly how native usage works.
Thanks for such a thoughtful and well-articulated question. It’s great to hear that you’re strengthening your foundations even while already using Spanish every day.
Un saludo
Silvia