Present Continuous (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Present Continuous
Overview
The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening right now, at this very moment. In Spanish, you form this tense by combining the present tense of the verb estar (to be) with the gerund form of the main verb. The gerund is the equivalent of the English "-ing" form.
This tense is useful when you want to emphasise that an action is currently in progress. It helps you talk about what someone is doing at the time of speaking, such as watching television, playing football, or reading a book.
The gerund (el gerundio)
The gerund is a verb form that expresses ongoing action. Understanding how to form gerunds is essential because they are the building blocks of continuous tenses in Spanish.
How to form regular gerunds
To create the gerund of regular verbs, remove the infinitive ending and add the appropriate gerund ending:
For -ar verbs: Remove -ar and add -ando
- hablar → hablando (speaking, talking)
For -er verbs: Remove -er and add -iendo
- comer → comiendo (eating)
For -ir verbs: Remove -ir and add -iendo
- vivir → viviendo (living)
Common irregular gerunds
Some frequently used verbs have irregular gerund forms that don't follow the standard pattern. You need to memorise these:
| Infinitive | Gerund | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| caer | cayendo | falling |
| leer | leyendo | reading |
| construir | construyendo | building |
| pedir | pidiendo | asking for |
| decir | diciendo | saying, telling |
| servir | sirviendo | serving |
Uses of the gerund
The gerund serves several important functions in Spanish:
Providing additional information about how an action is carried out. For example:
- Voy andando al instituto. (I go to school on foot.)
This tells us the manner of going - by walking.
Forming continuous tenses (present and imperfect) to emphasise ongoing actions. These constructions always use estar plus the gerund.
In advanced constructions, particularly with the verb seguir (to keep on, to carry on), you can express the continuation of an action:
- Sigo estudiando dibujo porque me gusta. (I keep studying Art because I like it.)
Important warning about English "-ing"
You cannot always translate an English "-ing" verb directly into Spanish using the gerund. In many cases, Spanish uses the infinitive or other constructions instead.
Common pitfall: Trying to use gerund everywhere English uses "-ing"
Correct examples:
-
Aprender español es emocionante. (Learning Spanish is exciting.)
Here, Spanish uses the infinitive "aprender", not the gerund.
-
Vamos a salir mañana. (We're leaving tomorrow.)
This uses the "ir a + infinitive" construction for future plans, not the present continuous.
Formation of the present continuous
The present continuous describes what is taking place at this moment. You form it by combining the present tense of estar with the gerund of the main verb.
Full conjugation
The formula is: estar (present tense) + gerund
| Subject pronoun | estar (present) | Example with gerund | English translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | estoy hablando | I am speaking |
| tú | estás | estás comiendo | you are eating |
| él/ella/usted | está | está escribiendo | he/she is writing, you (formal) are writing |
| nosotros/nosotras | estamos | estamos leyendo | we are reading |
| vosotros/vosotras | estáis | estáis jugando | you (plural) are playing |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | están | están estudiando | they are studying, you (plural formal) are studying |
Example sentences with explanations
Worked Example 1: Describing a current action
Estoy viendo la televisión. (I'm watching TV.)
This sentence uses the present continuous to show that the action of watching television is happening right now at this moment. The speaker is currently in front of the TV.
Worked Example 2: Emphasising ongoing activity
Está jugando al fútbol. (She's playing football.)
Here, the present continuous emphasises that the person is actively engaged in playing football at this very moment. The action is in progress.
Worked Example 3: Group action in progress
Estamos comiendo. (We are eating.)
This indicates that the group is currently in the middle of a meal. The continuous tense highlights the ongoing nature of the action.
Brief note on the imperfect continuous
While the present continuous describes current actions, Spanish also has an imperfect continuous tense that describes what was happening at a certain moment in the past. This is formed using the imperfect tense of estar plus the gerund.
Example: Estaba leyendo. (I was reading.)
The formation follows the same pattern, but with estar in the imperfect tense:
| Subject | estar (imperfect) | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | estaba | estaba estudiando | I was studying |
| tú | estabas | estabas bailando | you were dancing |
| él/ella | estaba | estaba durmiendo | he/she was sleeping |
| nosotros | estábamos | estábamos trabajando | we were working |
| vosotros | estabais | estabais corriendo | you were running |
| ellos/ellas | estaban | estaban hablando | they were talking |
Common mistakes and tips
Mistake 1: Overusing the continuous tense
Spanish uses the present continuous less frequently than English. In Spanish, the simple present tense is often preferred for actions happening now. For example, "¿Qué haces?" (What are you doing?) is more common than "¿Qué estás haciendo?" unless you really want to emphasise the ongoing nature.
Mistake 2: Translating all "-ing" forms with gerunds
Remember that Spanish uses the infinitive in many situations where English uses the gerund. Don't automatically reach for the gerund every time you see "-ing" in English.
Incorrect: Me gusta nadando. Correct: Me gusta nadar. (I like swimming.)
Mistake 3: Incorrect gerund endings
Make sure you use -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs. Mixing these up is a common error.
- Incorrect: habliendo
- Correct: hablando
Mistake 4: Forgetting irregular gerunds
Learn the irregular gerunds thoroughly. Verbs like leer, caer, and pedir have special forms that don't follow the regular pattern.
- Incorrect: leendo
- Correct: leyendo
Mistake 5: Wrong conjugation of estar
Each subject pronoun requires a specific form of estar. Practice these conjugations regularly.
- Incorrect: Yo está estudiando.
- Correct: Yo estoy estudiando.
Mistake 6: Missing accent marks
Some forms of estar require accent marks (estás, está, estáis). These accents are essential for correct spelling.
Helpful Tip: When deciding whether to use the present continuous or simple present, ask yourself: "Do I need to emphasise that this action is happening right now?" If yes, use the continuous. If you're just stating a general fact or habitual action, use the simple present.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The present continuous is formed by combining estar (present tense) + gerund
- Regular gerunds end in -ando (for -ar verbs) or -iendo (for -er and -ir verbs)
- Learn irregular gerunds such as cayendo, leyendo, construyendo, pidiendo, diciendo, and sirviendo
- Use the present continuous to emphasise actions that are in progress at this moment
- Don't translate every English "-ing" directly into Spanish with a gerund - Spanish often uses the infinitive or simple present instead