Present Progressive & -ndo verb forms
In English the present progressive is formed with the verb “to be” plus the –ing form of
another verb.
I am watching TV.
We are studying.
In Spanish, the present progressive is formed with the verb “estar” plus the –ndo form of
another verb..
Estoy mirando la tele.
Estamos estudiando.
Form the present progressive by taking off the ending and adding the new
ending to the stem
-ar verbs -er & -ir verbs
drop the ar and add –ando drop the er or ir and add –iendo
bailar
bail
bailando
comer
com
comiendo
escribir
escrib
escribiendo
If the stem of an –er or an –ir verb ends in a vowel, -iendo changes to –
yendo.
Leer
Le
Leyendo
creer
cre
creyendo
huir
hu
huyendo
oir
o
oyendo
This verb describes an action that is taking place right at the moment.
¿Qué estás haciendo?
What are you doing?
Estoy leyendo.
I am reading.
Laura Yankov, Yale Secondary School