Present Progressive ER IR Spanish Verbs

Here we’ll take just a minute to review the “doing” or “progressive tense” Spanish conjugations.

Remember, to conjugate “ar” verbs, you use a form of “estar”, then add the verb, and “ando” for “ar” verbs and “iendo” for “er/ir” verbs. Remember that “ando” and “iendo” are similar to the “ing” ending in English.

Before we move on and practice with “er/ir” dioing verbs, we need to review an important item. As we discussed briefly in the last lesson, to put on the “ing” ending you can either use a “doing verb”, with the “ando” or “iendo” ending, or “present tense”. For example, if you asked someone, “What are you looking for?”, you could either say “¿Qué buscas?” or “¿Qué estás buscando?”. Another example is the phrase, “What are you doing?”, where you can either say “¿Qué haces?” or “¿Qué estás haciendo?” In these cases, the present tense (or “¿Qué haces?”) is usually preferred by native speakers, but the progressive or doing tense “¿Qué estás haciendo?” can also be used.

Now, if want you say “What are you doing tomorrow at 3:00?”, you should not use a “doing verb”, since you aren’t doing it “right now”. Instead, you should use present tense, “¿Qué haces mañana a las tres?”

Before we go have a practice session, we need to learn a few new vocabulary words:

As you continue to the next Spanish lesson, we’ll practice with “er/ir” verbs. Remember, first you conjugate a form of “estar”, then change the verb ending to “iendo”.

Spanish Practice Session

Now we’ll practice a few er and ir doing verbs. Are you ready to try a few? Just remember that you can only use this tense if you are doing the action right when you are talking about it.

You have completed this section. Go ahead and continue on to the next lesson if you feel comfortable with it.