Forming the Present Progressive
Generally the present progressive is formed by using a conjugated form of estar and the present participle of another verb. Estoy leyendo...I am reading. But other verbs can take the place of estar as well. Seguí leyendo...I continued reading.
Today I asked my girlfriend's daughter where she was and I got an interesting reply: (Ella) anda caminando. I thought it was interesting because andar can mean to walk or take a walk and also can mean to go or to be. Here it was used in place of: (Ella) está caminando.
So I guess the question is: What other verbs can be used in place of estar to form the present progressive? Please give examples.
6 Answers
Ir - I think this one is often used to give the sense of gradually doing something
Voy comprendiendo la verdad.
I'm starting to understand the truth.
One more I have come across - continuar. "Maria continuará comprando ropa muy cara". "Maria will continue buying very expensive clothes".
"Salir"- to leave, exit
As in,
"Los niños salieron corriendo de la escuela."
I'm not going to just copy the examples, but they list a few for andar, venir, ir, and seguir here gerund form
Venir + ing
No sé por que vienen diciendome que no soy normal.
I don't know why they have been telling me I'm not normal.
I know an expression ..." pasar volando"
as in... "El avión pasó volando."
"The plane flew past."
Pasar volando is just one example meaning "to fly past," but I wonder if you can use it with "manejando" or another verb to form a similar construction.
