Present progressive tense.

Question

In the example “Ellos siempre estan comiendo” why is the present progressive tense used. In my research I learned that the progressive tense is used for temporary ongoing action. The use of siempre implies that it is not temporary.

Answer

Hola Kimberly!
Great observation! Normally, the present progressive in Spanish ("estar + gerundio", like "están comiendo") is indeed used to describe actions that are temporary or currently ongoing. However, in this case, using the present progressive with "siempre" adds an extra layer of meaning.When we say, "Ellos siempre están comiendo", it implies that "they" are always eating in a repetitive, perhaps even exaggerated way. The progressive tense here conveys the sense that eating is something they’re doing so often that it feels constant or habitual, even if it’s not literally happening every single moment. So, the progressive with "siempre" in this sentence emphasizes a recurring behaviour, often adding a hint of humor, annoyance, or exaggeration, rather than describing an actual continuous action. It’s a nuanced use of the progressive tense that brings attention to how frequent or habitual the action is.
Feliz semana
Silvia