The present progressive tense in Spanish helps us talk about things that are happening right now. To create this tense, we use the verb "estar" and add a gerund. In this lesson, we will learn how to do this step by step, change the verb "estar," form gerunds, and see some examples.

How the Present Progressive Works

To make the present progressive tense, just remember this simple formula:

Estar + Gerund

Step 1: Changing "Estar"

First, we need to know how to change the verb "estar" based on who we are talking about. Here’s how it goes:

• Yo estoy (I am)
• Tú estás (You are - informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted está (He/She/You - formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras estamos (We are)
• Vosotros/Vosotras estáis (You all are - informal in Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están (They/You all - formal)

Step 2: Making the Gerund

Next, we create the gerund by changing the main verb. The changes are different depending on the type of verb:

1. For -ar verbs: change -ar to -ando.
   • Example: hablar → hablando
2. For -er verbs: change -er to -iendo.
   • Example: comer → comiendo
3. For -ir verbs: change -ir to -iendo.
   • Example: vivir → viviendo

Examples

Here are some sentences that show different verbs in the present progressive tense:

1. Yo estoy hablando. (I am talking.)
2. Tú estás comiendo. (You are eating.)
3. Él está viviendo. (He is living.)
4. Nosotros estamos estudiando. (We are studying.)
5. Vosotros estáis bailando. (You all are dancing.)
6. Ellos están trabajando. (They are working.)

Important Words and Grammar

1. Articles:

   • Definite articles: el (the, for boys or males), la (the, for girls or females)
   • Indefinite articles: un (a, for boys or males), una (a, for girls or females)

   Examples:

   • El libro (The book)
   • La casa (The house)
   • Un perro (A dog)
   • Una mesa (A table)

2. Subject Pronouns:

   • Yo (I)
   • Tú (You)
   • Él/Ella (He/She)
   • Nosotros/Nosotras (We – boys/girls)
   • Vosotros/Vosotras (You all – boys/girls)
   • Ellos/Ellas (They – boys/girls)

3. Making Negative Sentences: To make a negative sentence in the present progressive, just put "no" before the verb "estar."

   • Example: Yo no estoy comiendo. (I am not eating.)

Summary

In summary, using the present progressive tense in Spanish means changing the verb "estar" and adding a gerund. Remember how to change "estar" based on who you are talking about, and how to form gerunds from different types of verbs. This helps you describe what you are doing right now and teaches you how to say you are not doing something. Practice these skills to get better at speaking Spanish!