The present tense is used much more frequently in English than it is used in
Spanish. As in Spanish, we make use of it to talk about actions that are in progress
now or right now. But in English, we also utilize the present progressive tense
to describe habitual actions or to speak in general. For example:

I am living in the suburbs.
I am working in the post office.
I am acquiring Spanish lessons.

In Spanish, the present tense is used to emphasize that an action is acquiring
place now. But many Spanish grammar books do not indicate that there is another
utilize for the present progressive tense. And that the present progressive tense
might be used to stress that an action is continuous.

I learned this one from trial and error. As embarrassing as it is to admit,
a five year old little girl corrected my Spanish grammar. Thats how I found out.

The first measure it happened it happened with an adult. I was trying to tell an
adult that I am learning Spanish. Since the Spanish grammar books taught me
that the Spanish present progressive tense is only used to describe actions
that are in progress right now, I did not make use of the present progressive tense
to say that I am learning Spanish. Because I was not learning Spanish at
that distingguished moment. At that very moment, I was trying to talk to her in
Spanish. So I said Aprendo español. She politely corrected me and said
se dice estoy aprendiendo español.

At the time, I thought that maybe she was wrong and that my textbook was right.
So I tried telling my next door neighboors five year old that Yo aprendo
español who proudly corrected my Spanish. She told me: youre supposed to
say yo estoy aprendiendo español.

Forming the Present Progressive Tense

In Spanish, we form the present progressive tense by conjugating the verb
estar with the present participle. You form regular ar present
participles by dropping the ar and adding ando. And you form regular
er present participles by dropping the er and adding iendo

Lets try it.

My grandmother is eating pork chops.
Mi abuelita est&#-2077;omiendo chuletas de cerdo.

The uncle is working.
El t쭠est&#-2060;rabajando.

The father-in-law is dancing.
El suegro est&#-2078;ailando.

The stepmother is cooking the lobster.
La madrastra est&#-2077;ocinando la langosta.

The grandson is doing nothing.
El nieto no est&#-2072;aciendo nada.

You are washing the windows.
Tú estౠlimpiando las ventanas.

Now lets try a few on your own. The answers appear at the bottom.

1.The nephew is selling cars.
2.The daughter-in-law is writing a letter.
3.The sister-in-law is receiving a lot of gifts.
4.The grandchildren are playing.
5.The cousin is buying a tie.
Answers:

1.El sobrino est&#-2058;endiendo carros.
2.La nuera est&#-2075;scribiendo una carta.
3.La cuñada est&#-2062;ecibiendo muchos regalos.
4.Los nietos estଠjugando.
5.El primo est&#-2077;omprando una corbata.

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