Right now: estar + gerund

Say what is happening at this very moment, using estar and the -ando / -iendo form of the verb.

Key Stage 3
About 14 minutes

How it is made

-ar verbs: take off -ar, add **-ando** (hablar, hablando). -er and -ir verbs: take off -er / -ir, add **-iendo** (comer, comiendo; escribir, escribiendo).
Pronoun	estar	+ gerund
yo	estoy	hablando
tú	estás	comiendo
él / ella / usted	está	escribiendo
nosotros / nosotras	estamos	jugando
vosotros / vosotras	estáis	viendo
ellos / ellas / ustedes	están	haciendo

Spelling changes

Some gerunds change: leer gives leyendo (reading), dormir gives durmiendo (sleeping).
The gerund never changes for masculine, feminine or plural: Mis hermanas están durmiendo.

Now or usually?

Use estar + gerund for what is happening right now: Ahora estoy viendo la tele.
Use the ordinary present for habits: Normalmente veo la tele por la noche.
¿Qué estás haciendo? = What are you doing (right now)?
Useful: ahora (now), ahora mismo (right now), en este momento (at the moment).

Worked example

Translate: Right now my parents are watching TV and I am doing my homework.

Right now: ahora mismo.
my parents are watching TV: mis padres están viendo la tele (ellos form, ver gives viendo).
I am doing my homework: yo estoy haciendo los deberes.

Answer: Ahora mismo mis padres están viendo la tele y yo estoy haciendo los deberes.

Key idea

estar (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están) + gerund: -ar gives -ando, -er and -ir give -iendo. Leyendo, durmiendo. Use it for actions happening right now.

Common mistakes

Not “hablado”. Hablado is the past participle, used in the perfect tense.
Not “somos”. The present continuous uses estar, not ser.

Quick check

Try two quick questions

See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.

Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

What is the gerund of trabajar?
1. trabajando
2. trabajendo
3. trabajado
4. trabajaendo
Show the answer
Answer: trabajando
-ar verbs add -ando.
What is the gerund of comer?
1. comiendo
2. comando
3. comido
4. comendo
Show the answer
Answer: comiendo
-er verbs add -iendo.

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Sources and references

National Curriculum in England, Key Stage 3: Spanish programme of study

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.