5.2 El Presente Progresivo Flashcards

Present Progressive in Spanish

Introduction

• The present progressive (El presente progresivo) is a verb tense used to describe actions that are happening right now or are in progress.

Uses of Present Progressive

• To talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.

  • Example:

  • English: The Spanish teacher is teaching the present progressive.

  • Spanish: La maestra de español está enseñando el presente progresivo.

Examples

• "Ahora mismo" (right now):

  • El perro está tomando el sol en la playa. (The dog is sunbathing on the beach.)

  • El hombre está haciendo windsurf en el mar. (The man is windsurfing in the sea.)

Formation of Present Progressive

• The present progressive is formed by combining:

  • The verb estar (to be) + the present participle (the “-ing” form of the verb).

Present Participle Formation: Detailed Explanation

• For -AR verbs: replace -ar with -ando.

  • Example: hablar (to speak) → hablando (speaking)

• For -ER and -IR verbs: replace -er or -ir with -iendo.

  • Example:

  • comer (to eat) → comiendo (eating)

  • vivir (to live) → viviendo (living)

Present Participle Formation: Quick Practice

• Change the infinitive verbs to their present participle form:

  1. hablar → hablando (talking)

  2. jugar → jugando (playing)

  3. hacer → haciendo (doing/making)

  4. comer → comiendo (eating)

  5. vivir → viviendo (living)

  6. escribir → escribiendo (writing)

The Verb Estar: Detailed Conjugation

• Here’s the conjugation chart for the verb estar:

  • Yo estoy (I am)

  • Tú estás (You are)

  • Él/Ella/Usted está (He/She/You (formal) is)

  • Nosotros/Nosotras estamos (We are)

  • Vosotros/Vosotras estáis (You (plural, informal) are)

  • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están (They/You (plural, formal) are)

The Verb Estar

• Importance of Estar:

  • In English, you must use a form of "to be" with the present participle (e.g., "He is walking," "She is working").

  • Similarly, in Spanish, never omit the verb estar.

  • Yo estoy escribiendo. (I am writing.)

  • Él está estudiando. (He is studying.)

Complete the Sentences with the Correct Form of Estar: Quick Practice

• Ellas están jugando a las cartas. (They are playing cards.)

• El bebé está comiendo pasta. (The baby is eating pasta.)

• Yo estoy pescando. (I am fishing.)

Spelling Changes

• Two types of spelling changes can occur in the present participles (-ando/-iendo form of the verb).

Spelling Change Type 1

• Conditions:

  1. It is an -IR verb.

  2. It stem-changes in the present tense (e.g., dormir, pedir, venir).

  • The stem change is slightly different from present tense stem changes, as they only change to one vowel.

• Examples:

  • Dormir

  • Present tense: o → ue change (duermo)

  • Progressive tense: o → u change (durmiendo)

  • Venir

  • Present tense: e → ie change (vienes)

  • Progressive tense: e → i change (viniendo)

Spelling Change Type 2

• Occurs when three vowels are together (which is not allowed).

• Examples:

  • Leer

  • leer → leiendo → leyendo

  • Other important verbs:

  • oír → oyendo

  • traer → trayendo

Irregular Present Participles

• Two verbs have irregular present participles. These must be memorized:

  • ir → yendo

  • poder → pudiendo

Practice: Highlighting Present Progressive

• Remember to include both parts: estar + present participle.

• Examples (present progressive highlighted):

  • Nosotros estamos descansando. (We are resting).

  • Carmen está comiendo en casa. (Carmen is eating at home).

  • Nuestro equipo está ganando el partido. (Our team is winning the game).

  • (Yo) estoy leyendo el periódico. (I am reading the newspaper).

  • Él está pensando comprar una bicicleta. (He is thinking of buying a bicycle).

  • José y Francisco están durmiendo. (Jose and Francisco are sleeping).

  • Marisa está leyendo correo electrónico. (Marisa is reading email).

  • (Yo) estoy preparando sándwiches. (I am preparing sandwiches).