How do you ask about what other people are doing???

Question

Hello, I am taking an introductory spanish class and I am supposed to ask about what other people(students, celebrities, etc.) are doing using the word "haciendo". For example, is this structure correct? "Que están haciendo los turistas"? I am just a bit confused on how you would write this, so I appreciate all of the help! Thank you!

To ask the question, you need an accent in Qué, and two question marks: ¿Qué están haciendo los turistas? - jtaniel, Nov 18, 2016

Answer 1

You are correct and here's why..

"What are the tourists doing?" is in the present progressive tense.

In Spanish the "am/is/are" part of the present progressive is formed by the use of the forms of "estar."

The verb ending in "ing" is formed in Spanish by the endings "ando"--for "ar" verbs, ane "iendo" (sometimes "yendo) for the "er" and "Ir" verbs.

To answer that question, as in "They are eating tacos." that would be:

"Están comiendo tacos."