Spanish Progressive Verb Forms

The progressive tenses in Spanish are formed by using a conjugated form of estar, a verb usually translated as to be, followed by a present participle, the form of the verb that ends in -ando or -iendo. In English, the progressive verbs are formed by using a form of to be followed by the present participle or -ing verb form. Although the progressive verb form (also called the continuous verb form) is used much less in Spanish than it is in English, the various tenses of the Spanish progressive verb forms are the rough equivalent of the same forms in English. Present Progressive In the present progressive tense, for example, Estoy estudiando is roughly the equivalent of I am studying. Note, however, that you also could say I am studying as Estudio. In Spanish, the progressive forms put additional emphasis on the continuing nature of the action, although the distinction isnt readily translatable. Although the present progressive can be used in English for future events (as in The train is leaving soon), that cant be done in Spanish. Te estoy mirando.(I am looking at you.)Finalmente estamos comprendiendo la importancia de la comunicacià ³n.(Finally we are understanding the importance of communication.)En este momento estamos mejorando nuestro sitio web para poder servirles mejor.(At this moment we are improving our website in order to serve you better.) Imperfect Progressive This tense is the more common past progressive tense. It places emphasis on the continuing nature of the action, although again in many contexts there would be little translatable difference between, for example, Yo estaba hablando con mi madre and Yo hablaba con mi madre, both of which can be understood to mean I was talking with my mother. Un conejito estaba corriendo por la jungla cuando ve a una jirafa.(A bunny was running through the jungle when he saw a giraffe.) ¿En quà © estaban pensando?(What were they thinking of?)No se estaban oyendo el uno al otro.(They werent listening to each other.) Preterite Progressive This tense is used less often than the imperfect progressive to refer to past actions. It is not used to explain the background of an event (as in the first example in the preceding section). Use of this form suggests there was a clear end to the activity. Hoy estuve oyendo la mà ºsica de Santana.(Today I was listening to the music of Santana.)La actriz estuvo comprando ropa para su hija.(The actress was buying clothes for her daughter.)Seis equipos estuvieron jugando desde las 12 pm hasta las 9 pm para decidir quien serà ­a el campeà ³n.(Six teams were playing from noon until 9 p.m. to decide who would be the champion.) Future Progressive This tense can be used to refer to events that will be happening. And, as with the simple future tense, it can be used to say that something is likely in the present. En sà ³lo cuatro horas estarà © viajando a Palenque.(In only four hours I will be traveling to Palenque.)Tarde o temprano estaremos sufriendo.(Sooner or later we will be suffering.)Estarà ¡n estudiando ahora.(Theyre probably studying now.)Estarà ¡ gastando mucho dinero en Cancà ºn.(She must be spending a lot of money in Cancun.) Conditional Progressive This tense is commonly used as the equivalent of verb constructions such as would be doing. Si hubiera nacido en Estados Unidos estarà ­a comiendo una hamburguesa.(If I had been born in the United States I would be eating a hamburger.)Si fuera tà º no estarà ­a trabajando tanto.(If I were you, I wouldnt be working so much.)Nunca pensà © que estarà ­a diciendo ahora estas cosas.(I never thought I would be saying these things.)Obviamente estamos interesados; si no, no estarà ­amos conversando.(Obviously, were interested; if not, we wouldnt be talking.) Perfect Progressive The present participle or gerund also can follow a conjugated form of haber followed by  estado  to form perfect progressive tenses, much as can be done in English with have or had and been. Such tenses carry the ideas of both continuous action and completion. These tenses arent particularly common. Dijeron los padres que el nià ±o habà ­a estado gozando de completa salud hasta el 8 de noviembre.(The parents said that the boy had been enjoying excellent health until Nov. 8.)Los estudiantes habrà ¡n estado utilizando los ordenadores.(The students will have been using the computers.)Habrà ­an estado comprando el pan en calle Serrano a la hora de la explosià ³n.(They would have been buying bread on Serrano Street at the time of the explosion.) Progressive Tenses in the Subjunctive Mood If the sentence of the structure requires it, you can also use the progressive forms in the subjunctive mood. No creo que estemos viviendo hoy en una democracia.(I dont believe we today are living in a democracy.)Es posible que està © pensando en comprar una casa.(It is possible that she is thinking about buying a house.)Es casi como si estuvieran nadando.(It is almost as if they were swimming.)No es posible que haya estado durmiendo.(It is not possible that I have been sleeping.)