In this Spanish grammar lesson you will learn about when to use el presente progresivo.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- when to use el presente progresivo in Spanish
- how el presente progresivo is used in sentences in Spanish
- how you can quiz yourself on when to use el presente progresivo
- how you can practice with flashcards on when to use el presente progresivo
- 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 when to use el presente progresivo!
Table of Contents
When to Use El Presente Progresivo
You will use El Presente Progresivo to express ongoing or continuous actions in the present.
This tense is very similar to the present progressive in English.
Have a look at an example where El Presente Progresivo is used.
hablar
Estoy hablando con Sergio.
I am talking to Sergio.
In this moment I am talking to Sergio.
This is an ongoing/continuous action.
And as mentioned before, when you use an ongoing/continuous action you will use El Presente Progresivo.
How to Form El Presente Progresivo
yo | estoy |
tú | estás |
él/ella/usted | está |
nosotros/nosotras | estamos |
vosotros/vosotras | estáis |
ellos/ellas/ustedes | están |
You can form El Presente Progresivo in the following way:
- estar in the present tense + gerund of the verb
As mentioned in the previous lesson on how to form regular gerunds in Spanish, you can form the gerund by taking the stem of the verb and adding:
- ando (for -ar verbs)
- iendo (for -er/-ir verbs)
comer -> com -> comiendo
Tú estás comiendo.
You are eating.
vivir -> viv -> viviendo
Ella está viviendo en el extranjero.
She is living abroad.
caminar -> camin -> caminando
Nosotros estamos caminando en el parque.
We are walking in the park.
beber -> beb -> bebiendo
¿Vosotros estáis bebiendo?
Are you drinking?
decidir -> decid -> decidiendo
Ahora ellos están decidiendo qué hacer.
Now they are deciding what to do.
Example Sentences on When to Use El Presente Progresivo
This section of the lesson on when to use el presente progresivo is about seeing it used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of when to use el presente progresivo through examples.
hablar -> habl -> hablando
Estoy hablando con Sergio.
I am talking to Sergio.
comer -> com -> comiendo
Tú estás comiendo.
You are eating.
vivir -> viv -> viviendo
Ella está viviendo en el extranjero.
She is living abroad.
caminar -> camin -> caminando
Nosotros estamos caminando en el parque.
We are walking in the park.
beber -> beb -> bebiendo
¿Vosotros estáis bebiendo?
Are you drinking?
decidir -> decid -> decidiendo
Ahora ellos están decidiendo qué hacer.
Now they are deciding what to do.
Quiz Yourself on When to use El Presente Progresivo
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).
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