-ing verbs: The Continuous Present/Past/Future Subjunctive and Indicative

In English, when we talk about an action that is occuring at the same time we are speaking, we use a form of to be in combination with the -ing form of the verb to say to be doing something, e.g, I am speaking, you are eating, he is living. This verb form is called the continuous present/past/future.

In Spanish, use a form of estar -- to be in combination with the -ando or -iendo form of the verb.

To form the continuous tenses for -ar verbs, simply take off the -ar and add -ando:

  • hablar  --> habl  --> hablando

for -er and -ir verbs, take off the -er or the -ir and add -iendo:

  • comer  --> com  --> comiendo
    vivir  --> viv  --> viviendo


Combine this form with a form of estar:

  • Yo estoy hablando -- I am speaking
    Tú estás comiendo -- You are eating
    Ella está viviendo -- She is living



The present indicative conjugation of estar is:

yoestoy
túestás
él, ella, Ud.está
nosotros/asestamos
vosotros/asestáis
ellos/ellas, Uds.      están


Estar can be conjugated in different tenses and moods to form different continuous tenses:

  • Nosotros estabamos estudiando -- We were studying.
    Yo he estado estudiando -- I have been studying.
    Aunque estén estudiando -- Although they may be studying.
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