Presente continuo

What is it and when to use it

We use the present continuous to say what someone is doing at the moment.

It is made up of two parts:

ESTAR + the GERUNDIO

(in the present tense) (the present participle / -ing)

• ¿Qué estás haciendo? What are you doing?

• Estoy pensando en salir I am thinking about going out

10CSp | AGR

Viva GCSE M3 U2

1. Take the present tense of ESTAR and conjugate it in the correct person

2. Add the present participle (the '-ing form')

How does it work

10CSp | AGR

Viva GCSE M3 U2

Forming the present participle

We form the present participle by:

1. taking the infinitive of the verb

2. removing the -ar, -er, -ir endings

3. adding -ando for -ar verbs or -iendo for -er and -ir verbs

10 CSp | AGR

Viva GCSE M3 U2

Things to watch out for!

1. Sometimes, we use the present participle ('-ing form') in English when in Spanish you need to use the infinitive

   • Cantar es divertido Singing is fun

2. Stem changing -ir verbs (but not -ar or -er verbs) change their spelling to form the present participle

   • Estamos viendo la tele We are watching TV

3. Some irregular present participles:

Viva GCSE M3 U2

10CSp | AGR

• Leer to read --> leyendo reading

• Oír to hear --> oyendo hearing

Choose or write the correct present participle

Viva GCSE M3 U2

10CSp | AGR

1. Take the present tense of ESTAR and conjugate it in the correct persono

2. Add the present participle (the '-ing form')

   • Estoy escuchando I am listening

   • Estoy comiendo I am eating

¡RECUERDA! How does it work?

10CSp | AGR

Viva GCSE M3 U2

Write the correct form of the verb in the present continuous

Viva GCSE M3 U2

10CSp | AGR