Progressive tense in Spanish

Question

In using progressives in Spanish, can one use auxiliaries other than 'estar', 'andar', 'seguir', and 'llegar' ?

Answer 1

I can understand the term continuous tense, but why do they call it progressive tense? (I can understand maybe with ir+gerundio)

Because in Spanish, unlike in English, there has to be a progression in order to use these forms, something must be moving towards an objective, improving, changing. That explains maybe why "ir" does not easily accept "Estoy yendo", because you don't stop or finish your going -this is expressed with another verb: llegar/arrive. Furthermore, the progressive form can be used even if you are not doing something continuosly -you can have breaks in betwee-, so I think the term is very adequate.

Thank you. - 0074b507, Apr 7, 2011

Answer 2

The gerund with verbs of motion and seguir/continuar.

1. To express the idea “to continue (to do something)” or “to keep on (doing something)”, use seguir or continuar with the gerund:

Sigo teniendo problemas con mi computadora. I keep on having [continue to have] problems with my computer.

Continúan haciendo las mismas preguntas. They keep on asking the same questions.

Note that the stem vowel in continuar is the weak vowel u, so it needs a written accent in the form used above.

1. Numerous verbs of motion may also be used with the gerund, for a variety of effects or purposes. Please note the uses of entrar, salir, venir, and andar given below:

Marcos salió (de la casa) corriendo. Marcos went running (out of the house). [O: Marcos ran out ...]

Mi hermana entró llorando. My sister came in crying.

Luego ellos vinieron pidiendo más dinero. Then they came along asking for more money.

Ese tipo anda quejándose de todo. That guy goes around complaining about everything.

Answer 3

Although he Spanish progressive tense is technically made by following a form of the verb estar with the present participle

Estoy comiendo. I am eating. etc

you can as you mentioned use other verbs to give a slightly different nuance to the progressive tense. As well as andar, sequir and llegar you can use ir and venir. You might find this link useful: The Progressive Tense

ooops 'the' not 'he' :) - Kiwi-Girl, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 4

Technically speaking, with most verbs the "gerundio" is not part of a tense; it works like a modal adverb.

Llegó rápidamente.

Llegó gritando.

If you take "llegó gritando" as a tense, then "llegó rápidamente" should be one too for you, I guess. One of the uses of the "gerundio" is to indicate how the action happened or what was happening wjhile the action took place (e.g. shouting).

I can understand the term continuous tense, but why do they call it progressive tense? (I can understand maybe with ir+gerundio - 0074b507, Apr 7, 2011

Answer 5

Some other verbs commonly used are: presentarse, vivir, salir, verse, quedarse, continuar, mantenerse, parecer, permanecer, presentarse, hallarse, etc.