Spanish Grammar: The Verb [ESTAR] with The Present Progressive Tense

Spanish Grammar: The Verb ESTAR with The Present Progressive Tense

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Spanish Grammar: The Verb [ESTAR] with The Present Progressive Tense
la gramática española: el verbo [estar] con el presente progresivo

  • The verb [ESTAR] means to be. It is an irregular verb.
  • May be used to indicate a state of ongoing action.

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60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson

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The Verb [ESTAR] : TO BE
(Present Indicative Tense)
yo ESTOY I am
tú ESTÁS you are
él / ella / usted ESTÁ he / she is – you are
nosotros ESTAMOS we are
vosotros ESTÁIS y’all are 
ellos / ellas / ustedes ESTÁN  they / you all are

The verb [ESTAR] means TO BE(I am, you are, he/she is, we are, y’all are …)

The verb [ESTAR] is used in many different kinds of expressions, like utilizing the Present Progressive tense. However, with the Present Progressive Tense, we team up the use of [ESTAR] with two new endings to verbs.

You use [-ANDO] at the end of [-AR] verbs. It’s like adding [-ING] to the end of English words.

Yo estoy estudiando.
I am studying.

You use [-IENDO] at the end of [-ER] and [-IR] verbs.

El está corriendo.
He is running.

Some verbs have irregular endings, so [-IENDO] changes to [-YENDO] in some cases.

Ella está leyendo.
She is reading.

Notice that the [-ANDO] and [-IENDO] endings don’t need to change with number and gender!

Nosotros estamos viajando.
We are traveling.

Adapt

¿Qué estás haciendo tú?
What are you doing?

¿Qué está leyendo?
What are you reading?

¿Dónde están corriendo?
Where are they running?

¿Quién está cantando?
Who is singing?

¿Cómo está funcionando?
How is it working?

¿Cuándo estamos comiendo?
When are we eating?

¿Por qué están esperando?
Why are they waiting?

¿Cuántos estudiantes están estudiando?
How many students are studying?

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