Note that this tense form is used less frequently in Italian than in English.
It’s normal to hear the simple present used instead of the progressive form we’re studying here.
For example: “Vado, ciao!” (“I’m going, bye!”) rather than “Sto andando, ciao!”, which would sound rather fussy.
Nevertheless, the progressive present form is used to specify/emphasise that an action that is taking place at the time of speaking, for example:
Lisa sta leggendo.
I bambini stanno giocando.
Sto facendo la fila.
The tense form is constructed using the verb ‘stare’ as an auxiliary, along with the present participle (gerundio) form of the base verb.
‘Stare’ conjugates like this:
io sto
tu stai
lui/lei sta
noi stiamo
voi state
loro stanno
And what about the present participle? No worries. As in English, it’s easy.
Verbs ending in -are form the present participle by adding the suffix -ando to the root of the verb. For example:
lavorare-lavorando
giocare-giocando
guidare-guidando
Verbs ending in -ere/-ire form the present participle by adding the suffix -endo to the root of the verb, as in these examples:
leggere-leggendo
tenere-tenendo
venire-venendo
dormire-dormendo
The following three verbs are the only irregular ones:
fare-facendo
dire-dicendo
bere-bevendo
Here are some more examples of the Italian Present Progressive form:
Sto aspettando il mio turno.
Alessandra sta giocando a carte.
Elena sta mangiando un gelato.
Stiamo bevendo una spremuta al bar. Vuoi raggiungerci?
Back to Italian lesson on: The Present Progressive
