Spanish Continuous Tenses

Quick Comparison: The Golden Rule

Verbo: Esperar

Estoy esperando: I am waiting.

Estaba esperando: I was waiting.

Estaré esperando: I will be waiting.

Verbo: Comer

Estoy comiendo: I am eating.

Estaba comiendo: I was eating.

Estaré comiendo: I will be eating.

1. Present Continuous

Action happening right now.

2. Past Continuous

Action that was in progress in the past.

3. Future Continuous

Action that will be in progress in the future.

Must Know: Irregulars

Stem Change (o → u)

  • dormir durmiendo
  • morir muriendo

Stem Change (e → i)

  • decir diciendo
  • pedir pidiendo

Spelling Change (i → y)

  • leer leyendo
  • ir yendo

Deep Dive & Nuances

Imperfect vs Past Continuous

Esperaba:

I was waiting (Descriptive)

Estaba esperando:

I was waiting (Emphasis on the process)

Present Perfect vs Present Continuous

PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT CONTINUOUS
have/has + -ed (V3) to be + ...ing he/has/ha + -ado / -ido estar + -ando / -iendo

Adverbial Gerunds

"Gerunds do not only form continuous tenses!"

  • Estás perdiendo tiempo pensando.
  • Se fue corriendo.
  • Me miró sonriendo.