The -ing verb form
Once you know how to make the present participle, you can combine it with estar (estar + participle) to say that you are doing something at the moment. For example, I am eating would be estoy (I am) comiendo (eating). This verb form is called the present progressive. You use it to communicate what is happening right now. In English we often use the present progressive for the future, too, but that is not done in Spanish. The present progressive is only for what's progressing now... in the present.
Formula:
estar (conjugated) + present participle
Steps:
1. Make the present participle of whatever action is happening
2. Add estar, placed right in front of participle
3. Conjugate estar to match who's doing the action
Examples:
Estoy leyendo mi libro de español.
I am reading my Spanish book.
Mis papás están cocinando.
My parents are cooking.
Mis abuelos están escuchando las noticias.
My grandparents are listening to the news.
Answer the in-class questions.
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