Introduction
The present progressive (estar + gerund) stresses that an action is happening right now or is temporary.
estar+gerund
| verb | gerund |
|---|---|
| hablar | hablando |
| comer | comiendo |
| vivir | viviendo |
- Estoy comiendo.I'm eating.
- ¿Qué estás haciendo?What are you doing?
- Estamos viviendo con mis padres este año.We're living with my parents this year.
The simple present can also describe what is happening now (¿Qué haces?). The progressive puts more weight on the action being in progress.
Irregular Gerunds
| verb | gerund | why |
|---|---|---|
| leer | leyendo | i y between vowels |
| oír | oyendo | i y between vowels |
| ir | yendo | irregular |
| dormir | durmiendo | o u |
| morir | muriendo | o u |
| pedir | pidiendo | e i |
| decir | diciendo | e i |
| poder | pudiendo | o u |
Not for the Future
Unlike English, Spanish doesn't use the progressive for future plans.
- Estoy viajando mañana.Voy a viajar mañana.or: Viajo mañana
Other Verbs with a Gerund
Seguir, llevar and ir can also combine with a gerund.
- Sigue lloviendo.It's still raining.
- Llevo dos horas esperando.I've been waiting for two hours.
- Poco a poco va mejorando.Little by little he's getting better.
Practice
Ella ___ en la biblioteca ahora mismo.
¿Qué ___ haciendo vosotros?
The gerund of leer is ___.
The gerund of dormir is ___.
The gerund of decir is ___.
The gerund of ir is ___.
To say I am travelling tomorrow (a plan), Spanish uses ___.
___ lloviendo. (It's still raining.)
Llevo dos horas ___. (waiting)
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