4.2 Comparative grammar - the present continuous form in English and Spanish

Spanish has a present continuous verb tense (estoy hablando)  just as English does (I’m talking), and while it has a deceivingly similar form, it is quite different in usage. The English present continuous is much more versatile and is used to refer to actions in progress at the moment as well as to ongoing actions (not necessarily in progress at the moment), future actions, and sometimes, habitual actions. The present continuous form in Spanish, however, is used exclusively for actions that are in progress in the moment or are in the process of being repeated. Consider the following examples:

Example 4.5

Action in Progress

This is the usage in which both languages coincide: the present continuous can be used in both English and Spanish to describe actions in progress at the moment that a statement is made. As we saw in part 4.1 of this Lesson, the Spanish present simple can also be used to describe an action in progress in the moment. This means sometimes both forms can be used interchangeably with the same effect. In English, the present continuous is always required for this usage. For example:

Ongoing actions or events occurring in the present (but not in this moment)

In these cases, the present continuous cannot be used in Spanish because it would imply that the action is in progress at the moment, which is not the case. In English, however, we can use the present continuous form to describe actions that are ongoing (like a sister-in-law taking care of children) but not necessarily in progress at the moment when the statement is made.

Future action

In these examples, the continuous form “se están casando” suggests the bride and groom are mid-ceremony and “está entrando” would also only be used to describe the daughter physically entering the school at the moment. The English present continuous, however, is often used with a future meaning.

Habitual action

In part 4.1 of this Lesson we saw that both English and Spanish typically use the present simple tense to describe habitual actions. However, in English, the present continuous tense may also be used to describe habitual actions, particularly when related to school, work, or living situations (He’s studying at the University of Oregon, I’m working for a telephone company). "Él está estudiando" or "estoy trabajando" are exclusively  used to express that “He’s studying right now” or “I’m working at the moment” and are not used to describe general realities or habitual actions, which can only be expressed in the present simple tense in Spanish.

Another difference between the English and Spanish present continuous tense is that verbs of motion in Spanish (ir, venir, volver) almost never take the continuous form while they typically do in English. For example:

These differences in grammar are important to keep in mind as we translate from Spanish to English. Translating the Spanish present simple tense to English involves evaluating how the verb is being used and considering the grammatical differences between the two languages in these usages. Failing to use the present continuous in English when it is called for results in a translation that neither sounds natural nor communicates the exact message of the ST.