The Progressive Tenses Present Progressive

The present progressive is commonly used in both Spanish and English. The way which the present progressive is used has many similarities. The action in the present progressive is in progress and is taking place right now.

I am walking.
We are walking.
You are walking.
He is walking.
You-all are walking.
You guys are walking.
She is walking.
They are walking.

The English present progressive differs slightly from the present as you will note in the examples below:

Present: The boy walks to the store.

Present Progressive: The boy is walking to the store.

In English the present progressive is formed by combining the verb "to be" with a present participle. In Spanish we combine the verb "estar" with the present participle of the action verb. To form the present participle for -ar verbs, drop the "ar" from the infinitive and add "ando". The present participle for "hablar" is "hablando". To form the present participle for -er and -ir verbs, drop the "er" or "ir" from the infinitive and add "iendo". The present participle for the verb "comer" is "comiendo" and for the verb "escribir" is "escribiendo".

Combining a form of "estar" (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis , están) with a present participle will yield the present progressive.

Yo estoy hablando.
I am speaking.

Tú estás comiendo.
You are eating.

Nosotros estamos escribiendo
We are writing.