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21. WHAT ARE THE PROGRESSIVE TENSES?
The progressive tenses are used to talk about actions that are in progress at a specific moment in time; they emphasize the moment that an action takes place. John is talking on the phone. [Right now.] We were trying to start the car. [At that moment.] IN ENGLISH The progressive tenses are made up of the auxiliary verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.
We are leaving right now. I present participle of main verb to leave
present tense of to be
At that moment John was washing his car. I present participle of main verb to wash
past tense of to be
Notice that it is the tense of the auxiliary verb to be that indicates when the action of the main verb takes place.
IN SPANISH The progressive tenses are made up of the auxiliary verb estar (to be) + the present participle of the main verb. A progressive form of the verb exists for all the tenses in Spanish. However, we shall here be concerned only with the present progressive. The present progressive is made up of the present tense of estar + the present participle of the main verb.
Estamos saliendo ahora mismo. present tense present participle of estar of salir (to leave)
We are leaving right now.
~Esths comiendo ahora? I I present tense present participle of estar of corner (to eat)
Are you eating now? Present vs. Progressive Tense
IN ENGLISH The progressive tenses are used to describe habitual actions, to state general truths, and to describe an action that is happening at a specific moment. They are used far more frequently in English than in Spanish.
IN SPANISH The progressive tenses are used only to emphasize an action that is happening at a particular moment or to stress the continuity of an action. The Spanish progressive tenses cannot be used to describe habitual action or to state general truths.
John, what are you studyin in school?
present tense —* estudias The present tense is used in Spanish because you are asking what John is studying in general over a period of time. John, what are you studying now? III
present progressive -~ esths estudiando The present progressive is used in Spanish because the word now indicates that you want to know what John is studying at this panic- ular time as opposed to all other times.
Mary, are you workin for the government?
present tense —* trabajas The present tense is used in Spanish because you are asking where Mary is working in general over a period of time.
Mary, are you working right now?
present progressive -+ estls trabajando The present progressive is used in Spanish because the words right now indicate that you want to know if Mary is working at this paftic- ular time as opposed to all other times. |
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