El Presente Progresivo

What the function is in language:

The Present Progressive is used to communicate about events that are currently in progress.  

In English the present progressive is used to communicate what is being done now, in the moment.  It is formed by using the verb "to be" and another verb with "-ing" on the end. 

In Spanish, it is formed by using the correct form of the verb estar and the verb that follows will have -ando or -iendo replacing the -ar or -er/ir verb ending.  This helps communicate what is happening in the moment.  

How to form the Present Progressive:

hablar -->   hablando
(hablar - ar + ando)

comer --> comiendo
(comer - er + iendo)

vivir -->       viviendo
(vivir - ir + iendo)

Examples: 
​
 Juan está jugando un juego de mesa. 
 Juan is playing a board game.
​
Mi amigo está escribiendo una carta a su novia. 
​My friend is writing a letter to his girlfriend.

Yo estoy viviendo con mi tía. 
I am living with my aunt. 

*Understand that there are some verbs that have a spell change when turned into the progressive form.  These are due to the fact that they are Stem-Changers and an -ir verb.  


Stem Changers (e -> i; o -> u)
dormir (o -> u)   = durmiendo
morir (o -> u) = muriendo

pedir (e -> i) = pidiendo
preferir (e -> i) = prefiriendo
seguir (e -> i) = siguiendo
servir (e -> i) = sirviendo
decir (e -> i) = diciendo


Spell Changers (i -> y)
*This happens when an -er or -ir verb is preceded by another vowel. 

leer = leyendo
creer = creyendo
construir = construyendo
caer = cayendo
oír =oyendo
incluir = incluyendo
concluir = concluyendo

There are many more verbs that fall into this category, it is just a matter of being familiar with the pattern, then applying it.