The Progressive Tenses

The "progressive tenses" are formed using the formula below:

conjugation of estar + gerund = progressive tense

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

hablar ---> hablando (talking)
comer ---> comiendo (eating)
vivir ---> viviendo (living)

Any tense of estar can be used to form a progressive tense. See the examples below:

No me molestes; estoy trabajando.
Don't bother me; I'm working.

Estábamos almorzando cuando llegaron.
We were eating lunch when they arrived.

Estuvimos haciendo ejercicio por tres horas.
We were exercising three hours.

Dudo que estén practicando a esta hora.
I doubt they're practicing at this hour.

Please Note: The progressive tenses always refer to an action in progress. Do not use the progressive to express a future action.

Estamos saliendo para Costa Rica mañana. - INCORRECT
Salimos para Costa Rica mañana. - CORRECT

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