What is the present continuous/progressive and how do I form it?

The present continuous or the present progressive is used to desribe an action that is occuring right now, in the moment of speaking.It is like the the simple present tense, but is formed using the verb 'to be' and the present participle '-ing' in english.So, for example,'I am speaking' this is made up of 'I am' the first person singular of 'to be' and the present participle 'speaking'It is exactly the same in spanish:Use 'estar' : estoy  i am          estás  you (sg) are          está   he/she/it is          estamos we are           estáis  you (pl) are          están  they are+ infinitive minus '-ar' + '-ando'      or '-er/-ir' + 'iendo'Back to the original example: 'I am speaking' In spanish this becomes 'estoy' + 'habl-' + 'ando'     'estoy hablando'For an '-ir/-er' example: 'estoy comiendo'  'I am eating'