Spanish progressive aspect
The progressive (or continuous) aspect indicates that an action, event or state was, is or will be ongoing in the past, present or future.
In English, the progressive tenses, formed by the auxiliary verb "to be" + present participle (verb -ing), indicate the progressive aspect. For example:
- I am working (present progressive)
- I was working (past progressive)
- I have been working (present perfect progressive)
- I had been working (past perfect progressive)
- I will be working (future progressive)
Spanish progressive tenses are formed in a very similar way to English.
We use verb estar in different tenses and add the present participle (-ando/-iendo).
For example
Yo estoy trabajando
I am working (present progressive)
Yo estaba trabajando
I was working (past progressive)
Yo estuve trabajando
I was working (past progressive II)
Yo he estado trabajando
I have been working (present perfect progressive)
Yo había estado trabajando
I had been working (past perfect progressive)
Yo estaré trabajando
I will be working (future progressive)
