In Spanish, the present progressive is only used to describe an action that is in the process of taking place.
In English the present progressive is formed by combining the verb "to be" with the present participle. (The present participle is merely the "-ing" form of a verb.)
I am studying.
I am studying with María.
In order to form the present progressive in Spanish , you must know how to conjugate the verb "estar", and how to form "the present participle". You already know how to conjugate the verb estar:
estar
estoy
estás
está
estamos
estáis
estánTo form the present participle of regular -ar verbs, add -ando to the stem of the verb.
hablar: hablando
(hablar - ar + ando)
trabajar: trabajando
(trabajar - ar + ando)
estudiar: estudiando
(estudiar - ar + ando)
To form the present participle of regular -er and -ir verbs, add -iendo to the stem of the verb.
comer: comiendo
(comer - er + iendo)
hacer: haciendo
(hacer - er + iendo)
vivir: viviendo
(vivir - ir + iendo)
escribir: escribiendo
(escribir - ir + iendo)To form the present participle of -ir stem changing verbs, change e:i and o:u in the stem, and then add -iendo to the stem of the verb.
servir: sirviendo
pedir: pidiendo
decir: diciendo
dormir: durmiendo
morir: muriendo
poder: pudiendo
Sometimes when forming the present participle it is necessary to change the spelling of a word so that it agrees with the way it is pronounced. We call this an "orthographic" change. Here are some common examples:
caer: cayendo
creer: creyendo
huir: huyendo
ir: yendo
influir: influyendo
oír: oyendo
traer: trayendo
leer: leyendo
seguir: siguiendo