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A2.2 · Week 1About 60 minutes · Audio throughout

What Are You Doing Right Now?

¿Qué estás haciendo ahora mismo?

Describing what you and others are doing at this moment using the present progressive.

After this lesson, you'll be able to

  • Describe what you and other people are doing right now (estar + gerund)
  • Form regular and irregular gerunds (hablando, comiendo, durmiendo, leyendo, diciendo)
  • Choose between the present progressive (right now) and the simple present (routines)
  • Have a short phone conversation with a friend about what you are doing
Stage 2
Week 1 of 12
Next lesson: Week 2: Have You Ever...? →
Next lesson: Week 2: Have You Ever...? →

Grammar focus

Essential grammar for this lesson with examples.

Grammar point 1 of 7

Introduction: the present progressive

When you say "I am eating" or "She is working" in English, you are using the present progressive. Spanish has the same tense: the verb estar followed by a gerund (gerundio), the Spanish "-ing" form.

The formula is estar (conjugated) + gerund. You already know the simple present (como, trabajo) for what you do in general. The present progressive (estoy comiendo, estoy trabajando) is for what is happening right now, or around now.

Examples

Estoy comiendo una ensalada.I am eating a salad. (right now)
Ana está trabajando en el hospital.Ana is working at the hospital. (at the moment)
Como ensalada todos los días.I eat salad every day. (a routine: simple present)
Ana trabaja en un hospital de Madrid.Ana works at a hospital in Madrid. (in general: simple present)
Tip

Unlike English, Spanish does not use the present progressive for future plans. "I'm travelling tomorrow" is "Viajo mañana" or "Voy a viajar mañana", never "Estoy viajando mañana".

Grammar point 2 of 7

Forming the gerund: -AR verbs

For -AR verbs, take off -ar and add -ando. There are no exceptions: every -AR verb forms its gerund this way.

hablar (to speak) - Present Progressive

The highlighted part is the ending.

PersonSingularPlural
1st person(yo) estoy hablando(nosotros/as) estamos hablando
2nd person(tú) estás hablando(vosotros/as) estáis hablando
3rd person(él/ella/usted) está hablando(ellos/ellas/ustedes) están hablando

Examples

hablar → hablandoto speak → speaking
Estoy hablando por teléfono.I am talking on the phone.
Pablo está cocinando la cena.Pablo is cooking dinner.
¿Estás estudiando para el examen?Are you studying for the exam?
Tip

Only estar changes for each person. The gerund (hablando) stays the same whoever is doing the action.

Grammar point 3 of 7

Forming the gerund: -ER and -IR verbs

For -ER and -IR verbs, take off -er or -ir and add -iendo. Both groups share the same ending.

Common -ER and -IR gerunds

The highlighted part is the ending.

InfinitiveGerundEnglish
comercomiendoeating
beberbebiendodrinking
aprenderaprendiendolearning
hacerhaciendodoing / making
escribirescribiendowriting
vivirviviendoliving

Examples

comer → comiendoto eat → eating
escribir → escribiendoto write → writing
Estamos comiendo en un restaurante.We are eating at a restaurant.
Mi hermana está escribiendo un correo.My sister is writing an email.
Grammar point 4 of 7

Irregular gerunds: stem-changing -IR verbs

Some -IR verbs change the vowel in their stem in the gerund: e becomes i and o becomes u. You met the same change in A2 Stage 1, in the preterite of verbs like pedir and dormir.

Stem-changing gerunds
InfinitiveChangeGerund
dormiro → udurmiendo
pedire → ipidiendo
servire → isirviendo
seguire → isiguiendo
repetire → irepitiendo
vestire → ivistiendo
decire → idiciendo
venire → iviniendo

Examples

dormir → durmiendoto sleep → sleeping (o → u)
pedir → pidiendoto ask for → asking for (e → i)
El bebé está durmiendo.The baby is sleeping.
¿Qué estás pidiendo?What are you ordering?
Tip

A shortcut: for most of these verbs the gerund has the same vowel as the él/ella preterite: durmió → durmiendo, pidió → pidiendo, sirvió → sirviendo. Decir and venir also change e to i (diciendo, viniendo), but their preterites are irregular (dijo, vino), so learn those two on their own.

Grammar point 5 of 7

Irregular gerunds: -yendo

When the stem of an -ER or -IR verb ends in a vowel, -iendo becomes -yendo: le-er gives leyendo, not "leiendo". It is a spelling rule, so it is easy to predict (one exception you may meet: reír → riendo). The verb ir (to go) has its own gerund: yendo.

Gerunds with -yendo

The highlighted part is the ending.

InfinitiveGerundEnglish
leerleyendoreading
oíroyendohearing
traertrayendobringing
construirconstruyendobuilding
iryendogoing

Examples

leer → leyendoto read → reading
oír → oyendoto hear → hearing
Estoy leyendo un libro muy interesante.I am reading a very interesting book.
Están trayendo las bebidas.They are bringing the drinks.
Tip

"Estoy yendo" is correct, but less common than "I'm going" in English. For "I'm on my way", Spanish speakers usually say "Voy de camino", and "Ya voy" means "I'm coming!".

Grammar point 6 of 7

Present progressive or simple present?

Use the present progressive for something happening right now, or for a temporary activity around now (esta semana, este mes). Use the simple present for routines, habits and general facts. Time words are a good guide to which one you need.

Time words and the tense they usually go with
Time wordEnglishUsually with
ahora mismoright nowpresent progressive
en este momentoat the momentpresent progressive
esta semanathis weekpresent progressivesomething temporary
siemprealwayssimple present
todos los díasevery daysimple present
normalmenteusuallysimple present
a vecessometimessimple present

Examples

Ahora mismo estoy estudiando español.Right now I am studying Spanish.
Estudio español los martes y los jueves.I study Spanish on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (routine)
Esta semana Pablo está trabajando desde casa.This week Pablo is working from home. (temporary)
Pablo cocina muy bien.Pablo cooks very well. (general fact)
Tip

Spanish uses the simple present more often than English does. "¿Qué haces?" can mean "What are you doing?", and for clothes you say "Llevo una camiseta azul" (I'm wearing a blue T-shirt). The present progressive stresses that something is in progress at this very moment.

Grammar point 7 of 7

Pronouns with the gerund, and seguir + gerund

Object pronouns and reflexive pronouns go in the same places as with an infinitive (lo voy a comprar / voy a comprarlo): before estar, or on the end of the gerund. When you add the pronoun to the end, write an accent on the stressed vowel so the word keeps its sound: leyendo → leyéndolo.

Seguir + gerund means "to keep doing" or "to still be doing": sigo cocinando (I'm still cooking / I'll carry on cooking).

Examples

Lo estoy leyendo. / Estoy leyéndolo.I am reading it.
Me estoy duchando. / Estoy duchándome.I am having a shower.
Diego me está mandando la receta.Diego is sending me the recipe.
Tomás sigue durmiendo.Tomás is still sleeping.
Tip

The pronoun never goes between estar and the gerund: "Estoy lo leyendo" is wrong.

Learn more →
Conversation

Conversation example

It's Saturday evening in Madrid. Ana is at home making dinner when she phones Pablo, who is at the park with his sister Carmen. (In Guadalajara, where Ana's brother Diego lives, it's around midday.)

  1. Pablo¿Sí? ¡Hola, Ana! ¿Qué tal?Hello? Hi, Ana! How are you?
  2. Ana¡Hola, Pablo! ¿Estás ocupado? ¿Qué estás haciendo?Hi, Pablo! Are you busy? What are you doing?
  3. PabloNo, tranquila. Estoy en el parque con Carmen. Ella está corriendo y yo la estoy esperando en un banco. ¿Y tú?No, don't worry. I'm at the park with Carmen. She's running and I'm waiting for her on a bench. And you?
  4. AnaEstoy haciendo la cena y, al mismo tiempo, estoy limpiando la cocina. ¡Es un desastre!I'm making dinner and cleaning the kitchen at the same time. It's a disaster!
  5. Pablo¡Ja, ja! ¿Y qué estás cocinando?Ha ha! And what are you cooking?
  6. AnaUna sopa de verduras. Diego me está mandando la receta por mensaje ahora mismo.A vegetable soup. Diego is sending me the recipe by message right now.
  7. Pablo¿Tu hermano cocina? ¡No lo sabía!Your brother cooks? I didn't know that!
  8. AnaSí, está aprendiendo. Este mes está leyendo un libro de cocina mexicana, y cada domingo prepara un plato nuevo.Yes, he's learning. This month he's reading a Mexican cookbook, and every Sunday he makes a new dish.
  9. Pablo¡Qué bien! Ah, mira, Carmen está volviendo. Me está pidiendo agua: tiene mucha sed.Great! Oh, look, Carmen is coming back. She's asking me for water: she's really thirsty.
  10. Ana¡Pobrecita! Oye, ¿puedes pasar por la tienda y comprarme unos tomates? Los necesito para la sopa.Poor thing! Listen, can you stop by the shop and buy me some tomatoes? I need them for the soup.
  11. PabloVale, pasamos por la tienda y vamos a tu casa. ¿Algo más?OK, we'll stop by the shop and come round to yours. Anything else?
  12. AnaNo, solo tomates. ¡Gracias, Pablo! Mientras tanto, sigo cocinando. ¡Hasta ahora!No, just tomatoes. Thanks, Pablo! Meanwhile, I'll carry on cooking. See you in a bit!

Want to learn more?

Vocabulary

Key words and phrases for this lesson.

Current actions

Phone calls with friends

  • llamar por teléfonoto phone / to call
  • contestarto answer
  • colgarto hang upStem-changing: cuelgo, cuelgas
  • mandar un mensajeto send a message / a text
  • ¿Diga? / ¿Dígame?Hello? (answering the phone in Spain)In Mexico: ¿Bueno? In Colombia: ¿Aló?
  • ¿Qué estás haciendo?What are you doing?
  • ¿Estás ocupado?Are you busy? (to a man)To a woman: ¿Estás ocupada?
  • Te llamo luego.I'll call you later.

Time words for right now

  • ahora mismoright now
  • en este momentoat the moment
  • todavíastill
  • mientras tantomeanwhile
  • esta semanathis week
  • por el momentofor the moment

Practice

Test your understanding with these exercises.

Exercise 1 of 6 · Fill in the blanks

Write the gerund of each verb. Watch out: some are regular, some change their stem and some take -yendo.

  1. trabajar →
  2. aprender →
  3. dormir →
  4. traer →
  5. servir →
  6. decir →
  7. oír →
  8. venir →
Exercise 2 of 6 · Fill in the blanks

Complete each sentence with estar + the gerund of the verb in brackets:

  1. Yo una película. (ver)
  2. ¿Tú por teléfono? (hablar)
  3. El niño en su cama. (dormir)
  4. Nosotros un libro muy interesante. (leer)
  5. El camarero la comida. (servir)
Exercise 3 of 6 · Multiple choice

Choose the correct gerund:

  1. 1. ¿Qué está _____ el gato? (hacer)

  2. 2. Los niños están _____ en el jardín. (jugar)

  3. 3. María está _____ un café. (pedir)

  4. 4. Estamos _____ la lección. (repetir)

  5. 5. Él está _____ el periódico. (leer)

Exercise 4 of 6 · Fill in the blanks

Present progressive or simple present? Look at the time words: use estar + gerund for what is happening now, and the simple present for routines. Write the correct form of the verb in brackets:

  1. Ahora mismo yo la cena. (preparar)
  2. Mi madre todos los días a las siete. (cocinar)
  3. ¡Mira! El perro en el sofá. (dormir)
  4. Normalmente yo a las ocho. (desayunar)
  5. En este momento Pablo con su jefe. (hablar)
  6. Los sábados Carmen en el parque. (correr)
Exercise 5 of 6 · Multiple choice

On the phone: choose the best way to complete each conversation.

  1. 1. Your phone rings in Spain and you don't know the number. You answer: "_____"

  2. 2. A: ¿Qué estás haciendo? B: _____

  3. 3. A: ¿Estás ocupada? B: Sí, _____ la cena. Te llamo luego.

  4. 4. A: ¿Estás leyendo el libro de Diego? B: Sí, _____ ahora mismo.

  5. 5. A: Bueno, te llamo luego, ¿vale? B: Vale. ¡_____!

Exercise 6 of 6 · Reading

Read about a Sunday morning at the Rodríguez family's house and answer the questions:

Lectura

Es domingo por la mañana en casa de la familia Rodríguez. La madre, Isabel, está preparando el desayuno en la cocina. Está haciendo huevos revueltos y café. El padre, Miguel, está leyendo el periódico en el salón mientras escucha música clásica. Los hijos, Laura y Tomás, todavía están durmiendo: para ellos es muy temprano. El perro, Coco, está corriendo por el jardín y la gata, Luna, está descansando en una silla. Isabel está llamando a los niños: "¡Laura, Tomás! ¡El desayuno está listo!" Ahora Laura está bajando las escaleras, pero Tomás sigue durmiendo.

  1. 1. ¿Qué está haciendo Isabel?

  2. 2. ¿Qué está haciendo Miguel?

  3. 3. ¿Qué están haciendo Laura y Tomás al principio?

  4. 4. ¿Dónde está corriendo el perro?

  5. 5. ¿Quién sigue durmiendo al final?

Listening practice

ConversationElementaryElenaCarlos

Una tarde ocupada

A Busy Afternoon

Tip: If you need help, review the questions first, use the slow speed option, and check the transcript.

0:00 / 0:00
ShowHide Transcript
  1. Carlos¡Por fin, Elena! Te llamé hace diez minutos y no contestaste. ¿Qué estás haciendo?At last, Elena! I called you ten minutes ago and you didn't answer. What are you doing?
  2. Elena¡Perdona, Carlos! Estoy limpiando el apartamento. Mi hermana Lucía viene de Bogotá mañana.Sorry, Carlos! I'm cleaning the flat. My sister Lucía is coming from Bogotá tomorrow.
  3. Carlos¡Qué bien! ¿Y qué estás haciendo exactamente?How nice! And what exactly are you doing?
  4. ElenaAhora mismo estoy pasando la aspiradora. Hace un rato lavé los platos, y la lavadora está lavando las sábanas para el sofá cama.Right now I'm vacuuming. A little while ago I washed the dishes, and the washing machine is washing the sheets for the sofa bed.
  5. CarlosEres muy organizada. ¿Necesitas ayuda?You're very organised. Do you need any help?
  6. ElenaNo, gracias. Mi vecina Rosa me está ayudando. Está limpiando las ventanas.No, thanks. My neighbour Rosa is helping me. She's cleaning the windows.
  7. Carlos¿Y qué vais a hacer Lucía y tú?And what are you and Lucía going to do?
  8. ElenaEstamos pensando en ir al centro. Lucía quiere comprar un regalo para nuestra madre, porque su cumpleaños es la semana que viene.We're thinking of going into town. Lucía wants to buy a present for our mother, because her birthday is next week.
  9. Carlos¡Qué bonito! Bueno, te dejo. Yo también estoy trabajando: estoy preparando un informe para el lunes.How lovely! Right, I'll let you go. I'm working too: I'm preparing a report for Monday.
  10. Elena¡Gracias por llamar, Carlos! ¡Suerte con el informe!Thanks for calling, Carlos! Good luck with the report!

Comprehension questions

Answer all 5 questions based on the conversation.

  1. Question 1

    ¿Por qué está limpiando Elena?

    Why is Elena cleaning?

  2. Question 2

    ¿Qué está haciendo Elena ahora mismo?

    What is Elena doing right now?

  3. Question 3

    ¿Quién está ayudando a Elena?

    Who is helping Elena?

  4. Question 4

    ¿Qué quiere comprar Lucía?

    What does Lucía want to buy?

  5. Question 5

    ¿Qué está haciendo Carlos?

    What is Carlos doing?

Before your next lesson

Review materials

Review lesson vocabulary

Test yourself on this week's vocabulary with interactive flashcards.

Practise this week

  • Write 5 sentences about what the people in your home are doing right now, using estar + gerund
  • Practise the irregular gerunds: dormir, leer, pedir, decir, seguir, traer, venir
  • Describe a photo: what is each person doing? Use "está/están + gerund"
  • Write a short phone conversation between two friends who ask each other what they are doing

Homework

  • Write 6-8 sentences about what your family or friends are probably doing right now. Use at least 3 irregular gerunds and one pronoun (lo estoy leyendo / estoy leyéndolo).
  • Describe a busy scene (a park, a café or an office) in a paragraph. Use the present progressive for what is happening now and the simple present for one thing that happens there every day.
  • Record yourself describing what you can see around you, using estar + gerund

Extra practice

Reinforce what you learned this week with these exercises from our site:

3 more practice links
Coming Up Next

Next week you'll learn the present perfect (he hablado, has comido) to talk about life experiences: things you have or haven't done. "¿Has estado alguna vez en México?"

Ready? Start Week 2 now →
Up next · A2.2 Week 2
Have You Ever...?
Start Week 2

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