In this Spanish grammar lesson we will discuss el presente progresivo vs el presente.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- el presente progresivo vs el presente
- how el presente progresivo vs el presente is used in sentences in Spanish
- how you can quiz yourself on el presente progresivo vs el presente
- how you can practice with flashcards on el presente progresivo vs el presente
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn Spanish
Please refer to the Spanish A1 Page to get a better overview of Spanish grammar, if you are curious about how this fits in the overall structure of Spanish A1.
By the end of the lesson you will know all about el presente progresivo vs el presente!
Table of Contents
El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente
| El Presente Progresivo | El Presente Progresivo | El Presente | El Presente |
| ahora | now | a menudo | often |
| ahora mismo | right now | generalmente | generally, normally |
| en este instante | at this moment | normalmente | normally |
| en este momento | at this moment | nunca | never |
| raramente | rarely | ||
| siempre | always |
How do you know when to use El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente?
This may be tricky if you don’t know a few simple tricks.
First let’s remember that El Presente Progresivo is used to express ongoing or continuous actions in the present tense.
Having said that let’s take a loot at the following example:
Nosotros trabajamos en Sevilla, pero ahora estamos trabajando en Valencia.
We work in Sevilla, but now we are working in Valencia.
Normally this person has a job in Sevilla and works there, however at that moment he is working in Valencia.
Perhaps something happened causing him to be unable to work in Sevilla.
We don’t know by just looking at the sentence.
However what is clear is that in that moment he is working in Valencia.
Here are some more examples:
Normalmente él duerme a esta hora, pero ahora está dibujando.
Normally he sleeps at this hour, but now he is drawing.
Yo nunca viajo, pero ahora mismo estoy buscando hoteles en Japón.
I never travel, but right now I am looking for hotels in Japan.
Ella siempre estudia antes de un examen, pero en este momento está bailando.
She always studies before an exam, but at this moment she is dancing.
Ellos siempre me visitan el lunes, pero ahora están navegando en Portugal.
They always visit me on Monday, but right now they are sailing in Portugal.
There are some trigger words that trigger a certain tense.
I have underlined those trigger words and you can also find them in the table above.
Whenever one of those words is used, the corresponding tense will be used.
Example Sentences on El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente
This section of the lesson on el presente progresivo vs el presente is about seeing them used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of el presente progresivo vs el presente through examples.
Nosotros trabajamos en Sevilla, pero ahora estamos trabajando en Valencia.
We work in Sevilla, but now we are working in Valencia.
Normalmente él duerme a esta hora, pero ahora está dibujando.
Normally he sleeps at this hour, but now he is drawing.
Yo nunca viajo, pero ahora mismo estoy buscando hoteles en Japón.
I never travel, but right now I am looking for hotels in Japan.
Ella siempre estudia antes de un examen, pero en este momento está bailando.
She always studies before an exam, but at this moment she is dancing.
Ellos siempre me visitan el lunes, pero ahora están navegando en Portugal.
They always visit me on Monday, but right now they are sailing in Portugal.
Quiz Yourself on El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente
It’s not enough to just read this lesson.
You should test your knowledge to see if you really understood everything, and to be able to repeat the material.
At the end of every lesson you can do a small test.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter. It is up to you to give the correct answer.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our Spanish A1 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 3,084 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for Spanish A1.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
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