progressive vs. simple present

Question

I heard somewhere that present progressive is used only when you want to stress that the action is occouring now. Is this correct? I realized this when i saw the phrase "Que haces?" (What are you doing?) When does one choose simple present vs. progressive?

Answer 1

A dude goes to a party, walks into the room. His ex-girlfriend sees him and spits between her teeth "¿Qué haces aquí? Which equates to "What are you doing here?" or "Why are you here?".

A child walks into a kitchen, sees his grandmother doing something. He asks her "Qué está haciendo abuela? She says "I'm making a pie".

I don't think of it as "stressing" anything, in my mind I'm just expressing a different scenario.

I have no idea what you call the tenses ......

Answer 2

You are correct. The progressive is used when the action is taking place right now. It is also used when you are talking about an action that is or was interrupted by another action or event.

Present: Veo tv. I am watching tv. Progressive: What are you doing? Estoy viendo tv.

Estoy viendo tele cuando mi celular suena.

Answer 3

You are correct. The progressive is used when the action is taking place right now. It is also used when you are talking about an action that is or was interrupted by another action or event. Present: Veo tv. I am watching tv. Progressive: What are you doing? Estoy viendo tv. Estoy viendo tele cuando mi celular suena.

Surely this should be : ...estaba viendo tele cuando mi teléfono sonó...

It doesn't sound right, in English that would be:

"I am watching TV when the phone rings" Only Damon Runyon can get away with that in English. Am I missing something here?