The Progressive Tenses  


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:

Yo estoy trabajando en la oficina.
I am working in the office.

Yo estaba estudiando.
I was studying.

Él estuvo corriendo aquí ayer.
He was running here yesterday.

Note: The progressive tenses always refer to an action in progress. Be careful when you use the progressive to express a future action.

Estará él trabajando.
He will be working.

[ view full lesson ]

Related Topics
present participle

Progressive Tenses

present progressive

imperfect progressive

past progressive

future progressive

See It Used in a Sentence

Sentence Flashcards & Videos

Sentence Flashcards Sentence Flashcards

Practice Forming & Using Sentences

Image-Sentence Match Image-Sentence Match

Word Order Quiz Word Order Quiz

Review With Exercises
Multiple Choice - regular verbs Multiple Choice - irregular verbsFill In


  Vocabulary Flashcards
  Vocabulary Quiz
  Photo Quiz
  Spelling Quiz
  Sentence Flashcards
  Video
  Example Sentences
  Dialogue
  Image-Sentence Match
  Word Order Quiz
  Multiple Choice Quiz
  A or B Quiz
  Fill In

Icon Legend

Icons are color coded by Spanish level:

Green = Beginner
Blue = Intermediate
Orange = Advanced


Black icons are unrelated to Spanish level:

Help
Download
Information




Popular Phrase: verbales que   | Articles