The present continuous tense is used to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
It shows an ongoing activity that is temporary or in progress.
To form a positive sentence in the present continuous, we use the subject followed by the verb "to be" (am, is, are) and the main verb with -ing.
1. I am eating dinner.
Estoy comiendo la cena.
To form a negative sentence, we use the subject followed by the negative form of "to be" (am not, is not, are not) and the main verb with -ing.
2. She is not studying for the exam.
Ella no está estudiando para el examen.
To form an open-ended question, we switch the positions of the subject and the verb "to be" (am, is, are).
3. Are you enjoying the party?
¿Estás disfrutando la fiesta?
To form a closed-ended question, we add the question word or phrase at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb "to be" (am, is, are), and then the subject.
4. What are they doing this weekend?
¿Qué están haciendo este fin de semana?
It's important to note that we don't use the present continuous tense in certain situations, such as when talking about permanent situations, general truths or mental states.
Therefore, we don't always use the present continuous with state verbs.
I am thinking. ✅
Estoy pensando.
I am feeling. ✅
Estoy sintiendo.
I am liking. ❌
Estoy gustando.
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Actions happening at the moment of speaking:
I am typing on my computer right now.
Estoy escribiendo en mi computadora ahora mismo.
Temporary actions:
He is working as a waiter during the summer.
Él está trabajando como camarero durante el verano.
Future arrangements and plans:
We are going to the theatre tonight.
Vamos al teatro esta noche.
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Actions happening around the present time:
They are renovating the famous landmark.
Están renovando el famoso monumento.
Annoying habits or repeated actions (with "always"):
She is always interrupting me during conversations.
Siempre me interrumpe durante las conversaciones.
Now, let's see the conjugation of the verb "to eat" (comer) in different tenses:
| Past | Present | Future |
I | I was eating | I am eating | I will be eating |
Yo | Era comiendo | Estoy comiendo | Seré comiendo |
You | You were eating | You are eating | You will be eating |
Tu | Tu estabas comiendo | Estas comiendo | Estarás comiendo |
He/She/it | He was eating | She is eating | It will be eating |
Él/Ella/lo | El era comiendo | Ella está comiendo | Estará comiendo |
We | We were eating | We are eating | We will be eating |
Nosotros | Eramos comiendo | Estamos comiendo | Nos seremos comiendo |
They | They were eating | They are eating | They will be eating |
Ellos | Ellos eran comiendo | Ellos estan comiendo | Ellos serén comiendo |
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