Estar + Gerund in Spanish: Estoy leyendo, estoy comiendo

Estar + gerund presents an action as in progress: Estoy leyendo — “I'm reading.” The gerund is the -ando/-iendo form. Spanish can also use the simple present for what is happening now, so do not automatically translate every English -ing form with this construction.

The form: estar + gerund

Conjugate estar, keep the gerund the same. Only estar changes for the person; the gerund never changes for gender or number.

The gerund endings. Drop the infinitive ending and add -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs.

Estáis (vosotros) is used in Spain. In Latin America, ustedes están covers "you all" in every situation — both are correct; see Subject Pronouns.

Gerunds that change: leyendo, durmiendo

Common forms in -yendo. With verbs such as leer and traer, the i of -iendo becomes y after a vowel. Learn the forms below; this is not a rule for every verb. Ir → yendo is irregular.

Some -ir verbs change their vowel. Many stem-changing -ir verbs change e → i or o → u in the gerund. Learn the common ones as words.

When to use it — and when the simple present is enough

Use it for an action in progress. It stresses that something is going on at this moment, or around now as a temporary situation.

The simple present often does the same job. Where English must say "What are you doing?", Spanish very often just says ¿Qué haces? Both are natural; the gerund adds a little more focus on "right now".

Plans and states. To announce a future plan, use the simple present or ir a + infinitive. To state possession or knowledge, normally use forms such as tengo or sé. The progressive focuses on how an activity is developing.

Some verbs can take the progressive when they describe an ongoing experience rather than a stable state: Estoy teniendo problemas con el teléfono — “I'm having problems with the phone.” Here tener does not mean owning something.

Where the pronoun goes: me estoy duchando / estoy duchándome

With reflexive verbs like ducharse or vestirse, the pronoun has two correct positions: before estar, or attached to the end of the gerund. The meaning is the same.

Keep the spoken stress. When attaching a pronoun, apply the spelling rules: duchándome, vistiéndose need written accents to keep the original stress. More examples: Reflexive Verbs.

Common mistakes

Ser instead of estar. This construction uses estar: estoy estudiando. Ser does not form the progressive.

Leer → leyendo. The gerund of leer is leyendo, with y.

Forgetting the vowel change in dormir. The gerund is durmiendo, with u.

Naming an activity. To name the activity as the subject, or after gustar in the examples below, use the infinitive: nadar, cocinar.

An action now or a plan? Ahora estamos viajando describes a trip in progress. El viernes viajamos or vamos a viajar announces a plan.

Both examples above are correct, but they answer different questions: what are we doing now, or what are we planning for Friday?

Dropping the accent when you attach the pronoun.

Quick exercise

Complete with estar + the gerund of the verb in brackets.

1. Ahora (yo) ___ un correo. (escribir)
2. ¿Por qué no contestas? — Porque ___ la cena. (preparar)
3. Silencio, por favor: los niños ___. (dormir)
4. Mi hermana ___ un libro de García Márquez. (leer)
5. ¿Qué ___ (tú)? No te entiendo. (decir)
6. Nosotros ___ la tele en el salón. (ver)
7. Espera un momento, Ana ___. (vestirse — attach the pronoun)