Using the Spanish present progressive/continuous instead of the present (El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente)

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El Presente Progresivo in Spanish

We use El Presente Progresivo to express ongoing actions in the present.

Look at this example:

Vivo en Inglaterra pero ahora estoy viviendo en Francia.I live in England but now I am living in France.
In this sentence, we understand that the speaker usually lives in England, however, at the moment of speaking, he is living temporarilly in another country (France in this case).

Read and listen to more examples:

Tú haces natación pero en este momento estás haciendo ciclismo.You (usually) swim but at this moment you are cycling.

Moncho siempre escucha pero ahora mismo está ignorando mis palabras.Moncho always listens but right now he is ignoring my words.

Ellos normalmente comprenden la situación pero ahora no están comprendiendo.They usually understand the situation but now they are not understanding.

You will generally find time phrases that will trigger El Presente Progresivo like:

  • ahora (now)
  • en este momento (at this moment)
  • en este instante (at this moment)
  • ahora mismo (right now)

El Presente in Spanish 

El Presente in Spanish is used to talk about things that we do more "generally".

Here are some time phrases that express frequency that generally trigger El Presente:

  • normalmente (as normal, normally)
  • generalmente (generally, normally, tupically)
  • siempre (always)
  • nunca (never)
  • a menudo (often)

 

 

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Examples and resources

Tú haces natación pero en este momento estás haciendo ciclismo.You (usually) swim but at this moment you are cycling.
Ellos normalmente comprenden la situación pero ahora no están comprendiendo.They usually understand the situation but now they are not understanding.
Vivo en Inglaterra pero ahora estoy viviendo en Francia.I live in England but now I am living in France.
Moncho siempre escucha pero ahora mismo está ignorando mis palabras.Moncho always listens but right now he is ignoring my words.
Using the Spanish present progressive/continuous instead of the present (El Presente Progresivo vs El Presente)
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En este momento Sara la televisión en el salón. (At this moment Sara is watching TV in the living room.)

Q&A Forum 6 questions, 8 answers

Marc G.B1Kwiziq community member

Progressive contradiction

This very lesson says that 'normalmente' signals the simple present, the so-called correct answer was the progressive. 

Asked 1 year ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Marc

In this test-question using "normalmente", there is a verb in the simple present tense: "funciona" - the tense we are testing here is linked to the next bit. 

 

Mi conexión a internet normalmente funciona

pero hoy estoy teniendo problemas. 

 

My internet connection usually works

but today I am having problems.

 

I hope it clarifies it.

Saludos

 

Marc G. asked:

Progressive contradiction

This very lesson says that 'normalmente' signals the simple present, the so-called correct answer was the progressive. 

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Kent W.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Ver o mirar

A question in the quiz said “estoy viendo un documental en la tele”. Why would this not be mirando en lugar de viendo?

Asked 3 years ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Kent

You could also say "estoy mirando un documental en la tele", but using "mirar" in this context is not the usual thing in Spain. It is more widely used in Latin America though, so it'd also be considered correct.

Kent W.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you for that insight. My focus is on Latin American Spanish so that helps. 

Kent W. asked:

Ver o mirar

A question in the quiz said “estoy viendo un documental en la tele”. Why would this not be mirando en lugar de viendo?

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T. M.C1Kwiziq community member

Sharing info

My sister would like the link to this lesson, she is also a premium member, how do I do this? Ty

Asked 3 years ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish Teacher

Hola Terri

If your sister is a premium member she can have access to all Kwiziq lessons. If she goes to her dashboard, she will see the search box to the right of the flag (right corner); if she types there "using el presente progresivo" the lesson will appear and she can click on it and learn it. She can also add it to her notebook to learn and do the kwiz later. 

Saludos

Inma

T. M. asked:

Sharing info

My sister would like the link to this lesson, she is also a premium member, how do I do this? Ty

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Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

En not con

¡Hola equipo!, 


In ref to this: How would you say "I am studying Spanish with Kwiziq right now"? 


My instinct was to say con Kwiziq, not en Kwiziq for the answer. 

Can you point me in the right direction so that I can lock that concept down, please?

Maybe you have a lesson already for this purpose?

Muchísimas gracias, 

Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Stuart

Your instict was right, because it is equally correct to say: "Estoy estudiando español con Kwiziq ahora mismo". When we use "en" we are thinking of Kwiziq more as a "place", the same you'd say for example:

"Estoy estudiando español en la academia." (I am studying Spanish at the academy.)

So both options are absolutely right.

Saludos

Inma

Stuart M. asked:

En not con

¡Hola equipo!, 


In ref to this: How would you say "I am studying Spanish with Kwiziq right now"? 


My instinct was to say con Kwiziq, not en Kwiziq for the answer. 

Can you point me in the right direction so that I can lock that concept down, please?

Maybe you have a lesson already for this purpose?

Muchísimas gracias, 

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Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

El español o no...

Hola soporte,

En la frase 'estoy estudiando español', ¿por que es no 'estoy estudiando el español'? 

I have seen the use of el español elsewhere, so ¡estoy confusito!

Amable gracias

Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Stuart

We always omit the article when we talk about subjects such as languages:

¿Hablas inglés? Do you speak English?

En el colegio estudio geografía e historia. At school I study Geography and History.

Quiero aprender alemán. I want to learn German.

You may have seen the article when it is the subject of the sentence, for example:

El español es un idioma bastante difícil. (Spanish is a difficult language.)

Me gusta mucho el español. (I like Spanish a lot)

In these two examples, "el español" is the subject on both sentences. 

Hope this helps,

Inma

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

¡Impresionante! It makes total sense. Muchísimas gracias, Inma

Stuart M. asked:

El español o no...

Hola soporte,

En la frase 'estoy estudiando español', ¿por que es no 'estoy estudiando el español'? 

I have seen the use of el español elsewhere, so ¡estoy confusito!

Amable gracias

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Rita P.A2Kwiziq community member

As película is neither a person nor a pet why is ser used.

Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish Teacher

Hola Rita

There is no verb "ser" in this lesson or word "película" either. Can you clarify what your doubt is please?

Gracias

Inma

Rita P. asked:

As película is neither a person nor a pet why is ser used.

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