The pretérito perfecto progresivo, also known as the present perfect progressive, is a tense used to describe actions that started in the past and have continued up to the present moment. This tense emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of the action.

Formation of the Pretérito Perfecto Progresivo

To form the pretérito perfecto progresivo, you need:

• The present tense of the verb «haber» (to have)
• The past participle of the verb «estar» (to be)
• The gerund (present participle) of the main verb

Here is the structure: 

haber (present) + estado (past participle of «estar») + gerund of the main verb

Conjugation of «Haber» in the Present Tense

– Yo: he

– Tú: has

– Él/Ella/Usted: ha

– Nosotros/as: hemos

– Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: han

Formation of the Gerund

To form the gerund, for:

– AR verbs: add -ando to the stem (e.g., hablar -> hablando)

– ER/IR verbs: add -iendo to the stem (e.g., comer -> comiendo, vivir -> viviendo)

Examples of the Pretérito Perfecto Progresivo

Let’s look at some examples to see how this tense is used in context:

1- Yo he estado comiendo (I have been eating).

Usage: Emphasizes that the action of eating started in the past and has continued up to now.

2- Tú has estado trabajando (You have been working).

Usage: Indicates that you started working in the past and are still working.

3- Él ha estado estudiando para los exámenes (He has been studying for the exams).

Usage: Highlights that he started studying in the past and continues to study.

4- Nosotros hemos estado viajando por Europa (We have been traveling around Europe).

Usage: Shows that the action of traveling began in the past and continues in the present.

5- Ellos han estado viviendo en esa casa por dos años (They have been living in that house for two years).

Usage: Indicates that they started living in the house two years ago and are still living there.

Practice Sentences

To help you get more comfortable with the pretérito perfecto progresivo, try forming sentences using the following verbs and subjects:

– Leer (to read): yo

– Escribir (to write): ella

– Hablar (to talk): nosotros

– Correr (to run): tú

– Escuchar (to listen): ellos

Common Uses

The pretérito perfecto progresivo is often used to:

– Emphasize the ongoing nature of an action.

– Highlight the duration of an action up to the present moment.

– Describe actions that are relevant to the present time.

By understanding the formation of this tense and usage, you can add more depth to your Spanish conversations and better describe actions with an emphasis on their duration.

Author Profile

Carlos

I am a Spanish teacher with years of experience in language instruction. I have helped many English speakers achieve fluency and confidence in speaking Spanish. My approach focuses on making learning accessible and practical for everyone, regardless of their starting level.