Level 3 — Intermediate (CEFR: B1)
Unit 9 — Expanding the Present
Lesson 1 — The Present Progressive
Lesson Overview
Level: 3 — Intermediate Unit: 9 — Expanding the Present Lesson: 1 of 5 Estimated Time: 60–75 minutes
What this lesson covers:
- The present progressive structure: estar (present) + gerund
- Gerund formation for all three verb groups
- Irregular gerunds: diciendo, yendo, durmiendo, sintiendo, siguiendo, oyendo
- Interpretation-specific use: real-time actions, live descriptions, testimonies
- The present progressive vs. the simple present: what each communicates
- Ministry sentences with the present progressive
The Present Progressive Structure
The present progressive describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking. It is formed with the present tense of estar plus the gerund (the Spanish equivalent of the English “-ing” form).
estar (present) + gerund
| Pronoun | Estar | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | Estoy predicando. |
| tú | estás | Estás creciendo en la fe. |
| él/ella/usted | está | Está sufriendo por Cristo. |
| nosotros | estamos | Estamos construyendo una iglesia. |
| ellos/ustedes | están | Están escuchando la Palabra. |
Gerund Formation
The gerund is formed from the infinitive:
| Group | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -AR | stem + -ando | hablar → hablando |
| -ER | stem + -iendo | comer → comiendo |
| -IR | stem + -iendo | vivir → viviendo |
Regular gerunds:
-AR: predicando, orando, hablando, compartiendo el evangelio → wait — compartir is -IR → compartiendo. Correct: predicando (predicar), orando (orar), hablando (hablar), trabajando (trabajar), adorando (adorar)
-ER: creyendo (creer) → note spelling change — see irregular gerunds below. Regular: comiendo, bebiendo, comprendiendo, respondiendo, obedeciendo
-IR: viviendo, recibiendo, decidiendo, sufriendo, cumpliendo, compartiendo, construyendo → note: construyendo has a spelling change
The Curriculum Key Sentences
Estoy interpretando el sermón. — I am interpreting the sermon.
Interpretando — the gerund of interpretar (-AR). This sentence is the interpreter’s self-description in action: what you are doing right now as you serve. Note it immediately — it names your calling in the progressive.
Variations: Estoy interpretando para que todos puedan escuchar. — I am interpreting so that everyone can hear. ¿Estás interpretando bien lo que el pastor dice? — Are you interpreting well what the pastor is saying? Estamos interpretando juntos en este ministerio. — We are interpreting together in this ministry.
Estamos construyendo una iglesia. — We are building a church.
Construyendo — the gerund of construir (-IR). The spelling change (i → y between vowels) applies here: constru + iendo → construyendo. This sentence describes the corporate act of church-building — a high-frequency ministry image.
Variations: Están construyendo sobre el fundamento de Cristo. — They are building on the foundation of Christ. ¿Estás construyendo tu vida sobre la roca o sobre la arena? — Are you building your life on the rock or on the sand? Estamos construyendo el reino de Dios ladrillo a ladrillo. — We are building the kingdom of God brick by brick.
Irregular Gerunds
These are the gerunds the curriculum identifies for specific oral fluency training:
decir → diciendo (saying/telling)
El pastor está diciendo algo muy importante. — The pastor is saying something very important. ¿Qué está diciendo el Espíritu a las iglesias hoy? — What is the Spirit saying to the churches today? Dios te está diciendo: “Te amo.” — God is saying to you: “I love you.”
The stem change e→i applies in the gerund, just as in the present and preterite third persons.
ir → yendo (going)
¿Adónde estás yendo en tu vida espiritual? — Where are you going in your spiritual life? El equipo misionero está yendo a la aldea más remota. — The mission team is going to the most remote village. Estamos yendo de fe en fe y de gloria en gloria. — We are going from faith to faith and from glory to glory.
Yendo is irregular: ir has no stem for iendo, so the y fills the gap.
dormir → durmiendo (sleeping)
Los discípulos estaban durmiendo cuando Jesús oraba en Getsemaní. — The disciples were sleeping when Jesus was praying in Gethsemane. ¿Estás durmiendo espiritualmente, o estás despierto? — Are you sleeping spiritually, or are you awake?
The o→u stem change applies in the gerund (same principle as the preterite third person rule for -IR verbs).
sentir → sintiendo (feeling/sensing)
¿Estás sintiendo el llamado de Dios? — Are you sensing God’s calling? Estamos sintiendo una carga por esta nación. — We are feeling a burden for this nation. El creyente está sintiendo la presencia del Espíritu Santo. — The believer is sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The e→i stem change applies in the gerund.
seguir → siguiendo (following)
¿Estás siguiendo a Cristo con todo tu corazón? — Are you following Christ with all your heart? Estamos siguiendo la visión que Dios nos dio. — We are following the vision God gave us. El mundo está siguiendo al hombre equivocado. — The world is following the wrong man.
The e→i stem change applies in the gerund.
oír → oyendo (hearing)
¿Estás oyendo lo que el Señor te está diciendo? — Are you hearing what the Lord is saying to you? La gente está oyendo el evangelio por primera vez. — The people are hearing the gospel for the first time. Estamos oyendo el llamado a la misión más fuerte que nunca. — We are hearing the call to mission louder than ever.
The o + iendo → oyendo spelling change: the i between vowels becomes y.
All Stem-Changing Gerunds: Pattern Summary
| Pattern | In present | In gerund | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| e→i (-IR) | pido | pidiendo | pidiendo |
| e→i (-IR) | sirvo | sirviendo | sirviendo |
| e→i (-IR) | sigo | siguiendo | siguiendo |
| e→i (-IR) | digo | diciendo | diciendo |
| o→u (-IR) | duermo | durmiendo | durmiendo |
| o→u (-IR) | muero | muriendo | muriendo |
| e→ie (-IR) | siento | sintiendo | sintiendo → uses e→i, not e→ie, in gerund |
| vowel + iendo | leyendo (-ER) | — | leyendo (leer), creyendo (creer), oyendo (oír) |
Present Progressive vs. Simple Present
These two are not interchangeable in Spanish. The present progressive describes an action happening right now, at this exact moment. The simple present describes habitual or general actions.
| Simple present | Present progressive |
|---|---|
| Predico el evangelio. (I preach — habitually) | Estoy predicando el evangelio. (I am preaching — right now) |
| Construimos una iglesia. (We build — ongoing project) | Estamos construyendo una iglesia. (We are building — in progress) |
| Sigue a Cristo. (He follows — as a life commitment) | Está siguiendo a Cristo. (He is following — in this moment) |
In ministry contexts:
- Testimonies describing past ongoing actions often use the past progressive (covered in Level 4): estaba orando cuando…
- Live descriptions during ministry use the present progressive: El pastor está predicando sobre la gracia.
- The present progressive is common in altar calls to describe what God is currently doing: Dios está hablando a tu corazón ahora mismo.
Ministry Sentences: Present Progressive
Proclamation and ministry in progress: El pastor está predicando la Palabra de Dios con fuego. — The pastor is preaching God’s Word with fire. El Espíritu Santo está obrando en los corazones. — The Holy Spirit is working in hearts. Dios está haciendo algo nuevo en esta generación. — God is doing something new in this generation. Estamos adorando al único Dios verdadero. — We are worshiping the one true God.
Altar call and invitation: Dios te está llamando ahora mismo. — God is calling you right now. El Señor está tocando tu corazón — ¿lo sientes? — The Lord is touching your heart — do you feel it? ¿Estás escuchando lo que Dios te está diciendo? — Are you listening to what God is saying to you?
Missions in progress: Estamos yendo a los confines de la tierra. — We are going to the ends of the earth. Están construyendo relaciones en esa comunidad. — They are building relationships in that community. El equipo está compartiendo el evangelio en las aldeas. — The team is sharing the gospel in the villages.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 — Gerund Production
Without notes, produce the gerund of each verb:
predicar, orar, vivir, compartir, seguir, decir, sentir, dormir, construir, ir, oír, creer
Answers: predicando, orando, viviendo, compartiendo, siguiendo, diciendo, sintiendo, durmiendo, construyendo, yendo, oyendo, creyendo
Exercise 2 — Present Progressive Formation
Build present progressive sentences with the given subject + verb:
- yo / predicar → Estoy predicando.
- el equipo / construir → El equipo está construyendo.
- nosotros / seguir → Estamos siguiendo.
- Dios / decir → Dios está diciendo.
- tú / sentir el llamado → Estás sintiendo el llamado.
- ellos / ir → Están yendo.
Exercise 3 — The Interpreter’s Self-Description
Produce five sentences describing what you are doing as an interpreter right now, using the present progressive:
Estoy interpretando… / Estoy escuchando… / Estoy siguiendo… / Estoy diciendo… / Estoy sirviendo…
Exercise 4 — Altar Call Live Practice
Produce an 8–10 sentence altar call invitation using the present progressive. Describe what God is currently doing in the listeners’ hearts. Use at least 5 different gerunds.
Key Takeaways for This Lesson
Before moving to Lesson 2:
- Present progressive: estar (present) + gerund
- -AR gerund: stem + -ando; -ER/-IR gerund: stem + -iendo
- The six irregular gerunds: diciendo, yendo, durmiendo, sintiendo, siguiendo, oyendo
- Stem-changing -IR verbs use their stem change in the gerund: e→i (diciendo, siguiendo, sirviendo), o→u (durmiendo)
- Present progressive = action right now; simple present = habitual/general action
Daily Practice
Each day this week, describe three things currently happening in your ministry or faith life using the present progressive:
Estoy [gerund]… / El Señor está [gerund]… / Estamos [gerund]…
Use a different gerund each day. By the end of the week, you will have used the progressive naturally with 21 different gerunds.