The Progressive Aspect
Describes an action in progress, ongoing, or unfolding.
- Estoy trabajando
- Están caminando
- Estás tomando café
- Estoy haciendo
- Estoy comiendo
- Estamos traduciendo
Important: In Spanish, the progressive is reserved for things that are actually in progress: happening right now, or ongoing over a stretch of time. English often uses the progressive for plans and the future (“I’m going to the store tomorrow”). Spanish doesn’t: there you use the present tense, ir a + infinitive, or the future tense.
- Mañana voy a la tienda. (I’m going to the store tomorrow.) Not
Mañana estoy yendo a la tienda.- Ya no voy mañana. / Ya no iré. (I’m not going anymore.) See also: Future
- ¿Qué haces esta noche? (What are you doing tonight?)
- Salgo a las cinco. (I’m leaving at five.)
Extending the Progressive: Motion & Continuation
Where you use Estar for temporary states, you can swap it for other auxiliary verbs to add specific shades of meaning:
1. Seguir Continuity (“Still” doing something)
Expresses that a temporary condition or action is still active/ongoing.
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Sigo extrañándote. (I’m still missing you).
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¿Sigues ahí? (Are you still there?)
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Me he tratado de recuperar pero sigo igual. (I’ve tried to recover, but I’m still the same).
2. Andar & Ir Replacing Estar for Tone & Flow
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Andar(Roving / Casual state): Implies going around doing something, being actively occupied, or casual movement.- Ando reclutando un equipo para… (I’m going around recruiting a team for…)
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Ir(Gradual / Accumulative progress): Implies an action building up or progressing step-by-step over time.-
Voy entendiendo mejor la lección. (I’m gradually understanding the lesson better).
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Vamos avanzando poco a poco. (We’re making progress little by little).
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3. Any Conjugated Verb + Progressive Manner / Execution
Any conjugated main verb followed directly by a progressive gerund describes how, in what manner, or by what means the main action is performed.
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Llegó corriendo. (She arrived running / She ran in).
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Pasó el examen estudiando todas las noches. (He passed the exam by studying every night).
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Salió de la oficina quejándose. (He left the office complaining).
From the transcripts
- “Eh, Marcelo, yo estoy trabajando ahora mismo.” video
- “Que chistoso Gogo se está quedando dormido.” video
- “En esta seguimos utilizando la activación del abdomen.” reel
- “Y con el tiempo, la constancia y la disciplina irán dando frutos.” reel
- “Y si tú vas borrando y borrando y borrando Como que no aprendes” reel