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El Progresivo:

Description

Exercises (Click on the dot to go directly to related exercises)

LOS USOS:

El presente progesivo (the present progressive):
describes activities or actions which are "in motion" at the time the speaker describes them. They are similar to the regular present tense (el indicativo),
although the indicative may lack the same sense of  "happening right now".  

 

¿CÓMO SE FORMA?

ESTAR    + -ando (-ar)  trabajar => trabajando  "working"

-iendo (-ir/-er) vivir => viviendo / comer => comiendo


-ar/-er verbs  DO NOT have a stem-change in this form:  
jugar = jugando, volver = volviendo

 

IRREGULARES

-ir stem changers spelling changers
morir =  muriendo

pedir = pidiendo

dormir = durmiendo

venir = viniendo

leer = leyendo

traer = trayendo

oír = oyendo

ir = yendo

 

USOS ADICIONALES:

The present participle (-ando, -iendo) can be teamed up with another verb, including verbs of motion.  This can indicate a CONTINUOUS MOTION, or that there are TWO actions that are happening at the SAME TIME.

continuar/seguir + -ando/-iendo
(to keep on doing something)

caminar/salir/ir/correr/entrar/salir
+ -ando/-iendo
(to move while doing something)

Ejemplos:

Fernando sigue hablando, aunque yo le dije, "Cállate".  (He keeps on talking, even though I told him, "Shut Up!".)