This introduction covers El Presente Continuo — estar + gerundio within Present tense + periphrastic future (ir a + inf) + present continuous for GCSE Spanish. Revise Present tense + periphrastic future (ir a + inf) + present continuous in Time Frames for GCSE Spanish with 13 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 4 of 4 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🔧 El Presente Continuo — estar + gerundio
The present continuous describes what is happening right now, at this exact moment. It is used less in Spanish than in English — but when you do use it correctly, it shows impressive control of the language.
⭐ How to Form the Gerundio
- -AR verbs: drop -ar, add -ando → hablar → hablando
- -ER/-IR verbs: drop the ending, add -iendo → comer → comiendo, vivir → viviendo
- Irregular gerundios to memorise: ir → yendo | decir → diciendo | oír → oyendo | poder → pudiendo | venir → viniendo
Here is the present continuous with comer across all six persons:
| Persona | estar + comiendo | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy comiendo | I am eating (right now) |
| tú | estás comiendo | you are eating (right now) |
| él/ella/usted | está comiendo | he/she is eating (right now) |
| nosotros/as | estamos comiendo | we are eating (right now) |
| vosotros/as | estáis comiendo | you (all) are eating (right now) |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | están comiendo | they are eating (right now) |
Five high-frequency continuous forms worth knowing for your exam:
- Estoy estudiando. — I am studying (at this moment).
- Está lloviendo. — It is raining (right now).
- Estamos viendo una película. — We are watching a film (at this moment).
- Están hablando por teléfono. — They are talking on the phone (right now).
- Estás aprendiendo mucho. — You are learning a lot (at this moment).
⭐ Key Contrast — Three Structures at a Glance
- Hablas español. (present simple) — You speak Spanish / You do speak Spanish (general fact or habit).
- Vas a hablar con el profesor. (ir a + inf) — You are going to speak to the teacher (future plan).
- Estás hablando con el profesor. (present continuous) — You are speaking to the teacher right now (happening at this moment).
- Exam note: Spanish uses ir a + infinitivo far more than the continuous to express the future. The continuous is reserved strictly for actions in progress at this moment — do not use it for future plans.
Practice questions for Present tense + periphrastic future (ir a + inf) + present continuous
Quick recall flashcards
Important grammar note: How common is estar + gerundio in Spanish vs English?
LESS common in Spanish than the equivalent in English!
Spanish often uses the simple present where English uses '-ing':
• '¿Qué haces?' = 'What are you doing?' (NOT estás haciendo in casual speech)
• 'Vivo en Madrid.' = 'I am living in Madrid.' (NOT estoy viviendo)
Use estar + gerundio only to emphasise the action is in progress RIGHT NOW
Irregular gerundios — Group 1
ir → ?
decir → ?
oír → ?
ir → yendo
decir → diciendo
oír → oyendo
These are high-frequency verbs with unpredictable gerundio forms — memorise them