Progressive tenses describe actions that are ongoing at a particular time. This guide covers how to form them and when to use each one.
Present Progressive
The present progressive expresses an action that is happening right now. It is formed with estar in the present plus the gerund.
Form
To form the gerund, add -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs. Some verbs have irregular gerunds.
I am talking with her right now.
Usage
Use the present progressive for actions occurring at the moment of speech or for very recent actions. It is less used for habitual actions.
Past Progressive
The past progressive describes an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past. It is formed with estar in the imperfect plus the gerund.
Form
Keep the same gerund formation. Use the imperfect of estar (estaba, estabas, etc.) to frame the continued past action.
Usage
Use the past progressive to set the scene or show an interrupted action in the past. It emphasizes duration or simultaneity with another event.
Other Progressive Tenses
Progressives can appear in other tenses to highlight ongoing actions relative to different time frames. Each uses an appropriate form of estar plus the gerund.
Future Progressive
The future progressive describes an action that will be ongoing at a certain future time. It is formed with estar in the future plus the gerund.
Conditional Progressive
The conditional progressive expresses an action that would be ongoing under certain conditions. It is formed with estar in the conditional plus the gerund.
Present Perfect Progressive
The present perfect progressive emphasizes the duration of an action that began in the past and continues into the present. It is formed with llevar + time + gerund or haber + estado + gerund.
Summary
Progressive tenses use estar plus the gerund to highlight ongoing actions relative to different times. Learn the key forms and signal words to describe actions in progress clearly.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025