Spanish

Present Progressive

Say what is happening right now with estar and an action in progress.

4 min

The idea

Use estar + an -ando or -iendo form for an action in progress.

Estoy comiendo means I am eating now. Keep your usual routine in the ordinary present: como a las dos.

Start with familiar actions.

01Estoy trabajando.Pronunciation: es-TOY trah-bah-HAN-dohI am working.02Estoy comiendo.Pronunciation: es-TOY koh-MYEN-dohI am eating.03Estoy esperando el autobús.I am waiting for the bus.

Build the action form from the verb.

For -ar verbs, use -ando: hablar → hablando. For many -er and -ir verbs, use -iendo: comer → comiendo; vivir → viviendo. Some common forms are irregular.

Ask what someone is doing.

01¿Qué estás haciendo?Pronunciation: keh es-TAHS ah-THYEN-dohWhat are you doing?02Estoy preparando la cena.I am preparing dinner.03Estamos tomando un café.We are having a coffee.

Separate now from your usual routine.

01

Usually

Trabajo en casa.I work at home.

02

Right now

Ahora estoy trabajando en una cafetería.Right now I am working in a café.

Explain why you cannot talk.

01Ahora no puedo. Estoy conduciendo.I cannot right now. I am driving.02Te llamo luego.I’ll call you later.03¿Estás esperando a alguien?Are you waiting for someone?

Remember this

Estar changes with the person; the action form stays the same.

Estoy comiendo. Estás comiendo. Estamos comiendo. Use it for what is in progress now.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

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