Verbs – Continuous Tenses (estar + verb + gerund)

Summary of contents – Lesson 13

1-     A general look at how continuous tenses are formed; (estar+verb+gerund). How the gerund is formed with AR, ER and IR verbs.

2-     A look at how ‘estar’ is formed when used with each of the continuous tenses.

3-     When continuous tenses are used in conversation and a special look at the present continuous tense. Comparisons with how they are used in English.

4-     The continuous tenses as used with ‘haber’. Forming more complex sentences.

Aims of the lesson

1-     Understanding how continuous tenses are formed. Being aware of stem changes in irregular verbs and knowing how to correctly form verb endings.

2-     Being able to formulate sentences in all continuous tenses by correctly using each form of the verb ‘estar’.

3-     Understanding when continuous tenses are used in conversation and when other tenses may be used instead. Knowing how continuous tenses are used in a common way regardless of what other tense they are being used with!

4-     Knowing how to correctly position the verb ‘haber’ when used in continuous tense verb constructions. Being able to formulate more complex sentence structures using ‘haber’, with confidence.