the progressive tense present and imperfect tenses

The The Progressive Progressive

TenseTensePresent and Present and

Imperfect TensesImperfect Tenses

To describe in Spanish an To describe in Spanish an action that is taking place action that is taking place as as you speakyou speak use the use the present present progressive (progressive (presente presente progresivo).progresivo). To do so: To do so:

- Use the form of - Use the form of estarestar (to be) (to be) that agrees with the subject + that agrees with the subject + a a present participlepresent participle (gerundio). (gerundio). (-ing in English)(-ing in English)

¿Qué está haciendo ¿Qué está haciendo Chela?Chela?

What is Chela doing What is Chela doing right right now?now?

¿Qué haces Chela?¿Qué haces Chela?What is Chela doing?(this What is Chela doing?(this weekend..tonight etc.)weekend..tonight etc.)

In Spanish, the present In Spanish, the present progressive describes an progressive describes an action that is ocurring action that is ocurring right now.right now. To describe To describe actions going on in the actions going on in the general present, use the general present, use the present tense.present tense.

Compare the following sentences:Compare the following sentences:Patricia Patricia está escribiendoestá escribiendo una una

carta.carta. Patricia is writing a letter. Patricia is writing a letter.

(RIGHT NOW.)(RIGHT NOW.)Stephen King Stephen King escribe escribe otra otra

novela. novela. Stephen King is writing another Stephen King is writing another

novel. (THIS YEAR)novel. (THIS YEAR)

ESTAR – to beESTAR – to be

yoyo nosotrosnosotros

tútúvosotrosvosotros

él/ellaél/ella

ustedusted

ellos/asellos/as

ustedesustedes

estoyestoy

estásestás

estáestá

estamosestamos

estáisestáis

estánestán

In Spanish, the In Spanish, the imperfectimperfect progressive is used to describe progressive is used to describe something that was taking place something that was taking place over a period of time in the past.over a period of time in the past.

Ex: Estaba esquiandoEx: Estaba esquiando cuando cuando me caí y me torcí la rodilla.me caí y me torcí la rodilla.

I was skiing when I fell and I was skiing when I fell and twisted my knee. twisted my knee.

Note that the Note that the imperfect imperfect progressiveprogressive describes what was describes what was taking place while the taking place while the preteritepreterite tells a specific occurrence in the tells a specific occurrence in the past or interrups the action. past or interrups the action.

Ex: Estaba esquiandoEx: Estaba esquiando cuando cuando me caíme caí y y me torcíme torcí la rodilla. la rodilla.

I was skiingI was skiing when when I fellI fell and and twistedtwisted my knee. my knee.

Note that the Note that the imperfect imperfect progressiveprogressive describes what was describes what was taking place while the taking place while the preteritepreterite tells a specific occurrence in the tells a specific occurrence in the past or interrups the action. past or interrups the action.

Ex: Ella estaba corriendoEx: Ella estaba corriendo cuando cuando se lastimóse lastimó el tobillo. el tobillo.

She was runningShe was running when when I she I she injuredinjured her ankle. her ankle.

It is never wrong to use just the It is never wrong to use just the imperfect instead of the imperfect imperfect instead of the imperfect progressive when talking about an progressive when talking about an “ongoing action.” You can choose “ongoing action.” You can choose either. The progressive tense puts a either. The progressive tense puts a little more emphasis on the ongoing little more emphasis on the ongoing action but either is OK. action but either is OK.

Ex: Ella estaba corriendoEx: Ella estaba corriendo cuando cuando se se lastimólastimó el tobillo. el tobillo.

Ex: Ella corríaEx: Ella corría cuando cuando se lastimóse lastimó el el tobillo.tobillo.

She was running when …She was running when …

Ex: Estaba esquiandoEx: Estaba esquiando cuando cuando me caíme caí y y me torcíme torcí la rodilla. la rodilla.

Ex: EsquiabaEx: Esquiaba cuando cuando me caíme caí y y me me torcítorcí la rodilla. la rodilla.

I was skiing when…I was skiing when… But remember in the present tense, you But remember in the present tense, you

can ONLY use the progressive tense can ONLY use the progressive tense when the action is going on “right now.” when the action is going on “right now.” Since both the imperfect and the Since both the imperfect and the imperfect progressive are both in the past imperfect progressive are both in the past than the “right now” rule is no longer than the “right now” rule is no longer relevant.relevant.

To form a present participle:To form a present participle:1. Drop the ending (-ar, -er, ir) from 1. Drop the ending (-ar, -er, ir) from

the infinitive. (Leaving the stem.)the infinitive. (Leaving the stem.)2. Add –ando to the stem of –ar2. Add –ando to the stem of –ar verbs.verbs. Add –iendo to the stem of –erAdd –iendo to the stem of –er or – ir verbs. or – ir verbs. This is the equivalent of the –ing form This is the equivalent of the –ing form

of the verb in English.of the verb in English.

So basically, you are adding –So basically, you are adding –NDO to the verb to make it the NDO to the verb to make it the equivalent to –ING in English. equivalent to –ING in English.

For -AR VERBS: For -AR VERBS:

For -IR and - ER VERBS: For -IR and - ER VERBS: NDOA

NDOIEIE

jugarjugar jug + jug + andoando

jugandojugandocomercomer com + com + iendoiendo

comiendocomiendoescribirescribir escrib+ escrib+ iendoiendo

escribiendoescribiendo

(playing)

(eating)

(writing)

Subject + ESTAR +Subject + ESTAR + ando ando iendo iendoEstarEstar will be conjugated to will be conjugated to match the subject of the match the subject of the sentence.(gerund never sentence.(gerund never changeschanges

Estoy hablando.Estoy hablando.(I am talking.)(I am talking.)Ella está comiendo. (Ella está comiendo. (She is She is

eating.)eating.)

If the stem of an If the stem of an –er or –ir–er or –ir verb ends in a vowel, verb ends in a vowel,

-iendo changes to –yendo.(i y)-iendo changes to –yendo.(i y)lleeerertrtraaereroíroírcrcreeerer

leyendo (leyendo (reading)reading)

trayendotrayendo(bringing)(bringing)oyendo (oyendo (hearing)hearing)

creyendo (creyendo (believing)believing)

All “-ir” verbs that normally All “-ir” verbs that normally change from echange from eie in the ie in the present will change from epresent will change from ei i in the past participle (just like in the past participle (just like in the preterite sandal).in the preterite sandal).

divertir divertir divirtiendo divirtiendo

sentir sentir sintiendo sintiendo

The following “-ir”verbs normally The following “-ir”verbs normally change from echange from ei in the present and i in the present and the participles (just like in the the participles (just like in the sandal).sandal).

decir: diciendodecir: diciendo

pedir: pidiendopedir: pidiendo

repetir: repitiendorepetir: repitiendo

seguir: siguiendoseguir: siguiendo

servir: sirviendo servir: sirviendo vestir:vistiendovestir:vistiendo

All “-ir” verbs that normally All “-ir” verbs that normally change from ochange from oue in the ue in the present will change from opresent will change from ou u in the past participle (just like in the past participle (just like in the preterite sandal).in the preterite sandal).

dormir dormir durmiendo durmiendo

morir morir muriendo muriendo

“-ir” stem-changing verbsThe following verbs normally The following verbs normally

change from ochange from oue in the ue in the present but only opresent but only ou in the u in the participle.participle.

dormirdormir

morirmorir

Pronouns can either go Pronouns can either go before “estar” (the before “estar” (the conjugated verb) or conjugated verb) or attached to the participle.attached to the participle.

ducharseducharseMeMe estaba duchando. estaba duchando.Estaba duchándoEstaba duchándomeme. .

I’m doing it. (la tarea)I’m doing it. (la tarea)LaLa estoy haciendo. estoy haciendo.Estoy haciéndoEstoy haciéndolala. . NOTE: When attaching a NOTE: When attaching a pronoun you add an pronoun you add an accent to the “a” of -ando accent to the “a” of -ando and the “e” of –iendo.and the “e” of –iendo.