The present progressive is used to talk about what is happening now. It is formed using the formula below:

present indicative conjugation of estar + present participle of verb = present progressive

The present participle (gerund) is usually formed with the stem of the verb plus -ando (for -ar verbs) or -iendo (for -er and -ir verbs). For example: hablar ---> hablando (speaking)

As with Spanish verbs, the are irregular present participles! Verbs of the second and third conjugations for which the stem ends in a vowel, change the ending -iendo to -yendo:

• leer --> leyendo
• caer --> cayendo

Están (ustedes) leyendo su horóscopo.
You all are reading your horoscope.

The gerund for the verb ir is yendo.

Él está yendo a la escuela.
He is going to school.

Verbs with stem changes:

Those verbs which have the changes o -> ue ->u [e.g., dormir, duermo, durmió] use that u which appears in preterit third-persons forms in the gerund:

• dormir --> durmiendo
• morir --> muriendo

El abuelo está durmiendo en el sillón.
Grandfather is sleeping in the armchair.
La mujer joven está muriendo.
The young woman is dying.

Those which have the changes e>ie>i [e.g., sentir, siento, sintió] use that i which appears in preterit third-persons forms in the gerund:

• sentir --> sintiendo

Those which have the changes e -> i ->i [e.g., pedir, pido, pidió] use that i which appears in preterit third-persons forms in the gerund:

• pedir --> pidiendo

Nosotros estamos pidiendo un cantante nuevo.
We are asking for a new singer.

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