The Italian progressive form

Present continuos (presente progressivo) is used to describe an action that is happening in the moment you speak or an action that is unfolding while you speak.

To better understand the difference between the present tense and the present continuos, you can read these examples:
  • Marco gioca a tennis una volta alla settimana. (Marco plays tennis once a week)
  • Marco sta giocando a tennis. (Marco is playing tennis)

  • Ogni sera leggo il giornale. (I read the newspaper every evening)
  • Sto leggendo il giornale. Quando finisco, ti chiamo. (I am reading the newspaper. When I finish, I'll call you)

To form the present progressive we use the present tense of the verb stare + a tense called gerundio, that is formed by replacing the final endings of the verb (-ARE, -ERE, -IRE) with -ANDO, -ENDO and -ENDO.

PARLARE > PARLANDO
VENDERE > VENDENDO
DORMIRE > DORMENDO


  • Sto studiando. Potresti smetterla di fare rumore, per favore? (I am studying. Could you please stop making noise?)
  • Che cosa state facendo? Stiamo guardando la televisione. (What are you doing? We are watching television)
  • Sta perdendo il treno! (He is missing the train!)
  • I bambini stanno dormendo. (The children are sleeping)