The Present Progressive: A Description Of The Present Progressive
The Present Progressive
The present progressive tense is equivalent to the English construction “to be + _ing” or “I am studying”. To express the present progressive which is a compound verb, you will use the verb estar (to be) with a verb in the present participle.
Take note that the present participle is invariable and the endings for the three groups of verbs are as follows:
-ar verbs (ajudar) -er verbs (escrever) -ir verbs (partir)
-ando (ajudando) -endo (escrevendo) -indo (partindo)
Here is the present indicative tense of the verb estar:
Subject English estar eu I estou tu (Port.) you (informal) estás ele, ela, você he, she, you (formal) está nós we estamos vós (archaic) you (informal) estais eles, elas, vocês he,she, you (formal,pl) estão …show more content…
-> How are you called? /What is your name?
Eu lavo-me. -> I wash myself.
Here are common reflexive verbs:
Reflexive Verb Literal Translation English cortar-se to cut oneself to cut deitar-se to go to sleep, to retire to lie down enxugar-se to dry oneself to dry off lavar-se to wash onself to wash up lembrar-se to remind oneself to remember levantar-se to get oneself up to get up machucar-se to hurt oneself to bruise pentear-se to brush, comb oneself to comb sentar-se to sit oneself down to sit down sentir-se to feel oneself to feel servir-se to help oneself to help oneself vestir-se to put on clothes, to dress oneself to dress vestir-se to dress oneself to dress
The Verbs Ser, Estar, and Ficar
The verbs ser, estar, and ficar all translate to the English verb “to be” but have distinct uses.
Ser (to be)
The verb ser is used to indicate long term or permanent characteristics or conditions. It is used to associate people with their occupation when used with a noun. It is also the verb used for telling the time of day, a recurring event.
Ele é uma pessoa inteligente. He is an intelligent person.
Ela é uma mulher generosa. She is a generous woman.
Nós somos empregados. We are employees.
Eles são estudantes. They are
The present progressive tense is equivalent to the English construction “to be + _ing” or “I am studying”. To express the present progressive which is a compound verb, you will use the verb estar (to be) with a verb in the present participle.
Take note that the present participle is invariable and the endings for the three groups of verbs are as follows:
-ar verbs (ajudar) -er verbs (escrever) -ir verbs (partir)
-ando (ajudando) -endo (escrevendo) -indo (partindo)
Here is the present indicative tense of the verb estar:
Subject English estar eu I estou tu (Port.) you (informal) estás ele, ela, você he, she, you (formal) está nós we estamos vós (archaic) you (informal) estais eles, elas, vocês he,she, you (formal,pl) estão …show more content…
-> How are you called? /What is your name?
Eu lavo-me. -> I wash myself.
Here are common reflexive verbs:
Reflexive Verb Literal Translation English cortar-se to cut oneself to cut deitar-se to go to sleep, to retire to lie down enxugar-se to dry oneself to dry off lavar-se to wash onself to wash up lembrar-se to remind oneself to remember levantar-se to get oneself up to get up machucar-se to hurt oneself to bruise pentear-se to brush, comb oneself to comb sentar-se to sit oneself down to sit down sentir-se to feel oneself to feel servir-se to help oneself to help oneself vestir-se to put on clothes, to dress oneself to dress vestir-se to dress oneself to dress
The Verbs Ser, Estar, and Ficar
The verbs ser, estar, and ficar all translate to the English verb “to be” but have distinct uses.
Ser (to be)
The verb ser is used to indicate long term or permanent characteristics or conditions. It is used to associate people with their occupation when used with a noun. It is also the verb used for telling the time of day, a recurring event.
Ele é uma pessoa inteligente. He is an intelligent person.
Ela é uma mulher generosa. She is a generous woman.
Nós somos empregados. We are employees.
Eles são estudantes. They are