- Learn the structure estar + gerund to express ongoing actions
- Form regular gerunds: -ar verbs → -ando, -er/-ir verbs → -iendo
- Understand why vowel stems use -yendo (leer → leyendo) and stem-changing patterns (o→u, e→i)
- Use the progressive in other tenses: past (estaba), future (estaré), conditional (estaría)
- Combine gerunds with motion verbs: seguir, ir, andar, venir
- Distinguish between present progressive (right now) and simple present (habitual)
- Know when to use infinitive instead of gerund (after prepositions, as subject)
- Place object pronouns correctly with accent marks (hablándolo)
What You'll Learn
Overview
The present progressive tense describes actions happening right now, at this very moment. Just like in English when we say "I am working" or "She is eating", Spanish uses estar + gerund (-ando/-iendo forms) to express ongoing actions in the present.
Same Concept, Different Structure
English
I am working
(be + verb-ing)
Spanish
Estoy trabajando
(estar + gerund)
The key is learning how to form the gerund (the -ando/-iendo form) and combining it with the correct form of estar.
Structure & Formation
Gerund Formation Rules
-AR Verbs → -ANDO
Remove -ar, add -ando
hablar → hablando(speaking)
trabajar → trabajando(working)
estudiar → estudiando(studying)
-ER/-IR Verbs → -IENDO
Remove -er/-ir, add -iendo
comer → comiendo(eating)
vivir → viviendo(living)
escribir → escribiendo(writing)
Vowel Stems: -IENDO becomes -YENDO
When an -er or -ir verb stem ends in a vowel, Spanish avoids putting three vowels together. The i in -iendo changes to y, giving us -yendo.
leer →leyendo
le + iendo → leyendo
(reading)
traer →trayendo
tra + iendo → trayendo
(bringing)
oír →oyendo
o + iendo → oyendo
(hearing)
caer →cayendo
ca + iendo → cayendo
(falling)
creer →creyendo
cre + iendo → creyendo
(believing)
construir →construyendo
constru + iendo → construyendo
(building)
Stem-Changing -IR Verbs in the Gerund
Some -ir verbs that have stem changes in the present tense also change their stem in the gerund. There are two patterns to learn:
O → U Pattern
The o in the stem becomes u
dormir →durmiendo(sleeping)
morir →muriendo(dying)
poder →pudiendo(being able)
E → I Pattern
The e in the stem becomes i
pedir →pidiendo(asking for)
servir →sirviendo(serving)
seguir →siguiendo(following)
vestir →vistiendo(dressing)
repetir →repitiendo(repeating)
mentir →mintiendo(lying)
Other Irregular Gerunds
A few verbs have unique gerund forms that don't fit the patterns above:
ir →yendo
(going)
decir →diciendo
(saying)
venir →viniendo
(coming)
Estar + Gerund = Present Progressive
Use the appropriate form of estar + the gerund. The gerund never changes - only estar conjugates.
trabajar (to work)
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy trabajando | I am working |
| tú | estás trabajando | you are working |
| él/ella | está trabajando | he/she is working |
| nosotros | estamos trabajando | we are working |
| vosotros | estáis trabajando | you all are working |
| ellos | están trabajando | they are working |
comer (to eat)
| Person | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy comiendo | I am eating |
| tú | estás comiendo | you are eating |
| él/ella | está comiendo | he/she is eating |
| nosotros | estamos comiendo | we are eating |
| vosotros | estáis comiendo | you all are eating |
| ellos | están comiendo | they are eating |
trabajar (to work)
yoI am working
estoy trabajando
túyou are working
estás trabajando
él/ellahe/she is working
está trabajando
nosotroswe are working
estamos trabajando
vosotrosyou all are working
estáis trabajando
ellosthey are working
están trabajando
comer (to eat)
yoI am eating
estoy comiendo
túyou are eating
estás comiendo
él/ellahe/she is eating
está comiendo
nosotroswe are eating
estamos comiendo
vosotrosyou all are eating
estáis comiendo
ellosthey are eating
están comiendo
Progressive in Other Tenses
The progressive isn't limited to the present. You can combine the gerund with different tenses of estar to describe ongoing actions in the past, future, or hypothetical situations.
Past Progressive (Imperfect)
For ongoing actions in the past - what was happening
Estaba trabajando
I was working
Estábamos comiendo
We were eating
Estaban durmiendo
They were sleeping
Future Progressive
For ongoing actions in the future - what will be happening
Estaré estudiando
I will be studying
Estaremos viajando
We will be travelling
Estarán esperando
They will be waiting
Conditional Progressive
For hypothetical ongoing actions - what would be happening
Estaría leyendo
I would be reading
Estaríamos jugando
We would be playing
Estarían viviendo
They would be living
Beyond Estar: Other Verbs with Gerunds
While estar is the most common verb used with gerunds, several other verbs - particularly verbs of motion and continuation - can also take gerunds to add nuance to ongoing actions.
Seguir / Continuar + Gerund
To keep doing / continue doing something
Sigo estudiando español
I keep studying Spanish
Continúa lloviendo
It continues raining
Siguen trabajando
They keep on working
Ir + Gerund
Gradual progression - something happening little by little
Voy aprendiendo
I'm gradually learning
Va mejorando
It's getting better (slowly)
Vamos entendiendo
We're starting to understand
Andar + Gerund
Going around doing something (often aimlessly or repeatedly)
Anda buscando trabajo
He's going around looking for work
Andan diciendo cosas
They're going around saying things
Ando pensando en ti
I keep thinking about you
Venir + Gerund
Something that has been happening for a while
Vengo diciéndote esto
I've been telling you this
Viene trabajando aquí
He's been working here (for a while)
Venimos preparando
We've been preparing
Examples
Present Progressive vs Simple Present
Use progressive for actions happening right now, simple present for habits/routines:
Progressive (now)
Estoy comiendo
I am eating (right now)
Simple (habit)
Como a las 2
I eat at 2 (every day)
Progressive (now)
Está trabajando
She is working (at this moment)
Simple (habit)
Trabaja en un banco
She works at a bank (general)
Progressive (now)
Estamos estudiando
We are studying (now)
Simple (habit)
Estudiamos español
We study Spanish (regularly)
Actions Right Now
Learning
Estoy estudiando español
I am studying Spanish
Weather
Está lloviendo mucho
It is raining a lot
Activity
Los niños están jugando
The children are playing
Mealtime
Estamos cenando ahora
We are having dinner now
Questions & Answers
Question
¿Qué estás haciendo?
What are you doing?
Answer
Estoy leyendo un libro
I am reading a book
Question
¿Dónde están viviendo?
Where are they living?
Answer
Están viviendo en Madrid
They are living in Madrid
Common Time Expressions
ahora
now
Estoy trabajando ahora
en este momento
at this moment
Está comiendo en este momento
todavía
still
Todavía estoy esperando
actualmente
currently
Estamos viviendo actualmente en España
Continuing Actions
seguir
Sigo aprendiendo
I keep learning
continuar
Continúa nevando
It continues snowing
seguir
Siguen hablando
They keep talking
seguir
Sigue intentando
Keep trying!
Past Progressive
Imperfect
Estaba durmiendo
I was sleeping
Imperfect
Estábamos cenando
We were having dinner
Question
¿Qué estabas haciendo?
What were you doing?
Imperfect
Estaban bailando
They were dancing
Common Mistakes
Always Use ESTAR, Never SER
Wrong: Soy comiendo
Correct:Estoy comiendo
The present progressive ALWAYS uses estar - never ser!
Don't Overuse the Progressive
Spanish uses the progressive less than English. For habits, use the simple present:
Not for habits:
Estoy trabajando todos los díasUse simple present:
Trabajo todos los días
Object Pronoun Placement: Two Options
Object pronouns can go before estar OR attached to the gerund:
Before estar:
Lo estoy leyendo
Attached to gerund:
Estoy leyéndolo
Both forms have the same meaning - choose whichever feels natural!
Add an Accent When Attaching Pronouns
When you attach a pronoun to a gerund, you must add a written accent to keep the stress on the correct syllable:
hablando →hablándolo
speaking it
comiendo →comiéndola
eating it
escribiendo →escribiéndote
writing to you
diciendo →diciéndome
telling me
The accent preserves the original stress: habLANdo → habLÁNdolo (stress stays on the same syllable)
Gerund vs Infinitive: Know the Difference
Unlike English, Spanish uses the infinitive (not the gerund) in several situations:
After Prepositions → Use Infinitive
para comer(in order to eat)
sin trabajar(without working)
antes de salir(before leaving)
después de estudiar(after studying)
✗ para comiendo / sin trabajando
As the Subject of a Sentence → Use Infinitive
Where English uses "-ing" as a noun, Spanish uses the infinitive:
Estudiar es importante(Studying is important)
Viajar abre la mente(Travelling opens the mind)
Nadar es buen ejercicio(Swimming is good exercise)
✗ Estudiando es importante
Al + Infinitive = "Upon/When doing"
This handy construction expresses "when" or "upon" doing something:
Al llegar a casa(Upon arriving home)
Al ver la noticia(When seeing the news)
Al terminar el trabajo(Upon finishing work)
Quick Test
Test your understanding of the present progressive tense:
1. How do you say 'I am working' in Spanish?
2. What's the gerund of 'leer' (to read)?
3. Choose the correct translation: 'They are eating dinner'
4. What's the gerund of 'hablar' (to speak)?
5. What's the gerund of 'dormir' (to sleep)?
6. Complete: 'Nosotros _____ (estudiar) para el examen'
7. How do you say 'It is raining'?
8. What's the gerund of 'oír' (to hear)?