Spanish Present Progressive: A1 Beginner’s Guide
◄ Back to A1 Grammar Hub | Practice with Present Progressive Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Master estar + gerundio structure for actions happening now
- Learn to form regular and irregular gerunds (-ando, -iendo)
- Understand when to use present progressive vs simple present
- Practice with real-time actions and current activities
Introduction to Present Progressive
The present progressive (estar + gerundio) is your key to talking about what’s happening RIGHT NOW. It’s the equivalent of “-ing” verbs in English and brings your Spanish to life by describing actions in progress. Whether you’re studying, cooking, or talking with friends, this tense makes your conversations dynamic and current.
The Basic Structure
Formula:
estar (conjugated) + gerund (-ando/-iendo)
Examples:
- “Estoy estudiando español.” (I am studying Spanish.)
- “Estás comiendo una manzana.” (You are eating an apple.)
- “Estamos hablando por teléfono.” (We are talking on the phone.)
Estar Conjugation (Review)
Present Tense:
- yo estoy (I am)
- tú estás (you are)
- él/ella/usted está (he/she/you is)
- nosotros estamos (we are)
- vosotros estáis (you all are)
- ellos/ustedes están (they/you all are)
Need help with verb conjugations? Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► to practice any verb in all tenses.
Forming Regular Gerunds
| Verb Type | Ending | Examples | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| -AR verbs | -ando | hablando, estudiando | speaking, studying |
| -ER verbs | -iendo | comiendo, bebiendo | eating, drinking |
| -IR verbs | -iendo | viviendo, escribiendo | living, writing |
Examples in Sentences:
- “Estoy hablando con mi madre.” (I am speaking with my mother.)
- “Estás comiendo muy rápido.” (You are eating very fast.)
- “Estamos escribiendo cartas.” (We are writing letters.)
Irregular Gerund Patterns
| Change Type | Rule | Examples | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| E → I | e changes to i | pedir → pidiendo, servir → sirviendo | asking, serving |
| O → UE | o changes to u | dormir → durmiendo, morir → muriendo | sleeping, dying |
| Vowel + -ER/IR | add -yendo | leer → leyendo, traer → trayendo | reading, bringing |
| IR | special form | ir → yendo | going |
Examples in Context:
- “Está pidiendo ayuda.” (He is asking for help.)
- “Están durmiendo en la cama.” (They are sleeping in the bed.)
- “Estoy leyendo un libro interesante.” (I am reading an interesting book.)
Complete Conjugation Chart
| Pronoun | Estar | + Gerund | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | estudiando | Estoy estudiando español. |
| tú | estás | comiendo | Estás comiendo una manzana. |
| él/ella | está | trabajando | Está trabajando en la oficina. |
| nosotros | estamos | hablando | Estamos hablando por teléfono. |
| vosotros | estáis | jugando | Estáis jugando al fútbol. |
| ellos/ellas | están | leyendo | Están leyendo libros. |
When to Use Present Progressive
| Situation | Use Present Progressive? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action happening now | ✅ YES | “Estoy cocinando” (I’m cooking – right now) |
| Temporary action | ✅ YES | “Está lloviendo” (It’s raining – currently) |
| Action in progress | ✅ YES | “Están construyendo una casa” (They’re building a house) |
| Habit/routine | ❌ NO – use simple present | “Como fruta” (I eat fruit – habit) |
| General truth | ❌ NO – use simple present | “El sol sale por el este” (The sun rises in the east) |
| Permanent situation | ❌ NO – use simple present | “Vivo en Madrid” (I live in Madrid) |
Usage Examples:
- Correct: “Estoy leyendo este libro.” (I am reading this book – right now)
- Incorrect: “Estoy viviendo en España.” (unless you’re temporarily there)
- Correct: “Vivo en España.” (I live in Spain – permanent)
Common Time Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ahora | now | Estoy trabajando ahora |
| en este momento | at this moment | Están comiendo en este momento |
| actualmente | currently | Estudio español actualmente |
| hoy (specific) | today | Estoy leyendo hoy |
| mientras | while | Estoy cocinando mientras escucho música |
Forming Questions and Negatives
Questions:
- “¿Estás estudiando?” (Are you studying?)
- “¿Qué estás haciendo?” (What are you doing?)
- “¿Están trabajando hoy?” (Are they working today?)
Negative Sentences:
- “No estoy mirando la televisión.” (I am not watching TV.)
- “No estamos comiendo carne.” (We are not eating meat.)
- “No está lloviendo.” (It is not raining.)
Common Usage Scenarios
Daily Activities:
- “Estoy cocinando la cena.” (I am cooking dinner.)
- “Está duchándose.” (He is showering.)
- “Estamos limpiando la casa.” (We are cleaning the house.)
Work and Study:
- “Estoy escribiendo un informe.” (I am writing a report.)
- “Está atendiendo al cliente.” (She is helping the customer.)
- “Estamos preparando el examen.” (We are preparing for the exam.)
Social Situations:
- “Estoy hablando con mi amigo.” (I am talking with my friend.)
- “Están bailando en la fiesta.” (They are dancing at the party.)
- “Estamos esperando el autobús.” (We are waiting for the bus.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t forget to conjugate estar – “estoy comiendo,” not “estar comiendo”
- Don’t use present progressive for habits – Use simple present instead
- Don’t mix up -ando and -iendo – -AR verbs get -ando, -ER/-IR get -iendo
- Don’t ignore stem changes – pedir → pidiendo, dormir → durmiendo
- Don’t use for permanent situations – “vivo en” not “estoy viviendo en”
Quick Reference Summary
| Aspect | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | estar + gerund | estoy hablando |
| -AR verbs | -ando | hablando, estudiando |
| -ER verbs | -iendo | comiendo, bebiendo |
| -IR verbs | -iendo | viviendo, escribiendo |
| Stem E→I | -iendo | pidiendo, sirviendo |
| Stem O→UE | -iendo | durmiendo |
| Use for | Actions now | Estoy comiendo ahora |
| Don’t use for | Habits | Como pescado (habit) |
Spanish Learning Tools
Practice Made Easy: Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► for instant conjugation help with any verb in all tenses.
Continue Learning: Explore more A1 Grammar Guides ► for complete beginner lessons.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you understand the present progressive, it’s time to test your knowledge!
Need conjugation practice? Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► for any verb.
Take our Present Progressive Quiz ► to practice gerund formation, estar conjugation, and real-time usage.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Basic Commands | Reflexive Verbs ►
Need More Detailed Information?
- For advanced usage: Complete Progressive Tenses Guide ►
- For exam preparation: DELE A1 Present Progressive Guide ►
Remember: The present progressive brings your Spanish to life by describing actions as they happen. Use it to talk about what you’re doing right now, and soon it will become second nature!
