Spanish Grammar: Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous Tense

• The Present Continuous Tense is a verb form that describes an action that is happening at the moment of speaking.
• It is constructed using the verb "to be" (estar) followed by the present participle/gerund (-ing) of the main verb.

Conjugation of the Present Continuous Tense

• Estar (to be) is used as the helping verb, followed by the present participle/gerund of the main verb.
• Conjugation of estar:
  • Estoy (I)
  • Estás (you)
  • Está (he/she/it)
  • Estamos (we)
  • Estáis (you plural)
  • Están (they)

Formation of the Present Participle/Gerund

• -ar verbs: add -ando to the verb stem (e.g., hablar → hablando)
• -er/-ir verbs: add -iendo to the verb stem (e.g., comer → comiendo)
• Irregular verbs: have specific changes (e.g., dormir → durmiendo, pedir → pidiendo)

Usage of the Present Continuous Tense

• It is used to describe an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking.
• It cannot be used to describe future actions (e.g., I am working tomorrow).
• In Spanish, the expression "ir + a + infinitive" can be used to refer to the near future (e.g., Voy a trabajar mañana).

Reflexive Verbs

• Reflexive pronouns are usually attached to the end of the gerund and the gerund gets a written accent on the á or the é.
• Reflexive pronouns can also be placed before the verb "estar" in the continuous tenses.
• Examples: Estoy duchándome, Está levantándose, Estás vistiéndote.