Ongoing Actions in the Present Tense in Spanish

This section explains Ongoing Actions in the Present Tense in Spanish. In Spanish, ongoing actions in the present tense are expressed using the present continuous. This tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now, or actions that are in progress at the moment of speaking. It is formed using the verb "estar" (to be) in the present tense, combined with the gerund (present participle) of the main verb.

How to Form the Present Continuous (Ongoing Actions)

To form the present continuous, you need to use the verb "estar" (to be) in the present tense, followed by the gerund (the "-ing" form) of the main verb.

Formula:

[Conjugated form of estar] + [Gerund form of the main verb]

The verb "estar" in the present tense:

Forming the Gerund (Present Participle)

The gerund form of regular verbs is formed by adding the following endings to the verb stem:

• -ar verbs: Add -ando (e.g., hablar → hablando)
• -er verbs: Add -iendo (e.g., comer → comiendo)
• -ir verbs: Add -iendo (e.g., vivir → viviendo)

Examples of regular verbs in the gerund form:

• hablar → hablando (talking)
• comer → comiendo (eating)
• vivir → viviendo (living)

Using the Present Continuous with Regular Verbs

Once you know how to form the verb "estar" and the gerund form of the verb, you can easily construct sentences about ongoing actions. The structure will look like this:
[Subject] + [form of 'estar'] + [gerund of the main verb]

Examples:

• Yo estoy hablando (I am talking)
• Tú estás comiendo (You are eating)
• Ella está viviendo en Madrid (She is living in Madrid)
• Nosotros estamos trabajando (We are working)

Higher Tier: Using Irregular Verbs in the Present Continuous

Some Spanish verbs have irregular gerund forms. These verbs don’t follow the standard pattern of -ando or -iendo. Instead, their gerund forms change slightly. Below are some of the most common irregular verbs and their gerund forms:

Examples:

• Estoy diciendo la verdad (I am telling the truth)
• Estamos yendo a la escuela (We are going to school)
• Ellos están oyendo música (They are listening to music)

Foundation Tier Examples with Ongoing Actions

Here are some basic examples using the present continuous to talk about actions happening right now.

Examples:

• Estoy comiendo una manzana (I am eating an apple)
• Ellos están jugando al fútbol (They are playing football)
• Nosotros estamos estudiando para el examen (We are studying for the exam)
• Tú estás leyendo un libro interesante (You are reading an interesting book)

Higher Tier Examples with Ongoing Actions

For higher-tier sentences, you might add more detail or use irregular verbs in the present continuous tense.

Examples:

• Estoy buscando un restaurante que esté cerca (I am looking for a restaurant that is near)
• Ellos están preparando la cena para sus amigos (They are preparing dinner for their friends)
• Nosotros estamos viajando por España este verano (We are travelling around Spain this summer)
• Ella está estudiando para su examen de biología (She is studying for her biology exam)

Negative Form of the Present Continuous

To form a negative sentence in the present continuous, place "no" before the form of "estar".

Examples:

• No estoy comiendo (I am not eating)
• Ellos no están durmiendo (They are not sleeping)
• Nosotros no estamos trabajando hoy (We are not working today)
• Tú no estás estudiando para el examen (You are not studying for the exam)

Questions in the Present Continuous

To form a question, invert the order of the subject and the verb "estar".

Examples:

• ¿Estás trabajando ahora? (Are you working now?)
• ¿Estamos llegando tarde? (Are we arriving late?)
• ¿Ellos están viendo una película? (Are they watching a movie?)
• ¿Por qué estás hablando tanto? (Why are you talking so much?)

Using the Present Continuous for Future Actions

In Spanish, the present continuous can also be used to talk about planned actions in the near future, similar to the English “going to” structure. This is especially common when talking about things that are already arranged or planned.

Examples:

• Estoy saliendo con mis amigos esta tarde (I am going out with my friends this afternoon)
• Ellos están viajando a París la próxima semana (They are travelling to Paris next week)
• Nosotros estamos estudiando para el examen de mañana (We are studying for the exam tomorrow)

Key Points to Remember

• The present continuous is formed with "estar" + gerund (the -ing form of the verb).
• Regular verbs follow the standard -ando and -iendo patterns.
• Irregular verbs (like ir and decir) have their own gerund forms, such as yendo and diciendo.
• The present continuous is used to describe ongoing actions happening right now or actions that are in progress at the moment.
• It can also be used to talk about future plans.
• To make sentences negative, place "no" before the form of "estar".
• To form questions, invert the order of the subject and "estar".

Summary Table of Present Continuous Conjugation

Conclusion

The present continuous is an essential tense to talk about ongoing actions in the present. It is very useful for discussing what is happening right now, as well as for describing future plans or arrangements. Practise using the present continuous with both regular and irregular verbs, and experiment with forming questions and negative sentences.