The Progressive: Actions in Progress

Present Progressive

We will use the Present Progressive to express actions that are happening NOW!

How to form Present Progressive:Estar + Gerund

EstoyEstás Ar = andoEstá +EstamosEstáis Er, Ir = iendo/yendoEstán

Ejemplos:

1. Silvia is working.2. We are studying.3. My friends are writing letters.4. You are eating.5. I am making a cake.

What to do with pronouns:

All pronouns can either go before the verb Estar or attached to the end of the Gerund.

Me estoy bañando. Estoy bañándome.Ellos lo están comiendo.Ellos están comiéndolo.

What about stem changers?

When forming the gerund we only have to worry about –IR stem changers.

O ► U (Dormir) DurmiendoE ► I (Pedir) Pidiendo

Past Progressive

We will use the Past Progressive to express actions that WERE happening at a certain time in the past.

How to form the Past Progressive:Estar (imperfect) + Gerund(for actions that were happening or are assumed

to be have been happening at a specific time)

EstabaEstabas Ar = andoEstaba +EstábamosEstabáis Er, Ir = iendo/yendoEstaban

Estar (preterite) + Gerund(for actions that were happening and very

definitely have ended- specific time period)

EstuveEstuviste Ar = andoEstuvo +EstuvimosEstuvisteis Er, Ir = iendoEstuvieron yendo

Ejemplos:

1. We were talking to Ana this morning.2. At 2:00, I was swimming with friends.3. Ana and Carlos were drinking milk during

lunch.4. You were watching Harry Potter last night at

8:00.5. Yolanda was receiving gifts at her graduation

party.6. What were you doing yesterday?

Progressives with verbs other than Estar• Ir = to be slowly / gradually doing

something.(slowly but surely)Vamos repasando los tiempos verbales.• Seguir / continuar: to keep doing

something/ to be doing something still• Siguen haciendo los mismos errores.

• Venir: to have been doing something / to come along doing something

Ella viene leyendo el libro.

• Andar: to go around doing something.El anda invitando a todas las chicas.

• Just like Estar, these other verbs can be used in either the present tense or in the imperfect tense to express a present or past progressive action.

• Ellos andaban coleccionando dinero para la escuela.

• Ellos andan coleccionando dinero para la escuela.

FIN