NEW MATCH • A2+ Upper Beginner Temas da atualidade NEW FILL-IN • B1 Intermediate Encontro às cegas NEW COMPLETION • A2+ Upper Beginner Cada um com o seu estilo NEW LISTEN • B1 Intermediate Encontro às cegas NEW COMPLETION • A2 Beginner Pequenos mistérios da natureza NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Campeões do sono NEW ORDERING • A2+ Upper Beginner Subida do salário mínimo NEW LISTEN • A2 Beginner Campeões do sono NEW FILL-IN • B1 Intermediate Arrendar ou comprar? NEW ORDERING • A2+ Upper Beginner Menos viagens, mais família NEW LISTEN • B1 Intermediate Arrendar ou comprar? NEW ORDERING • B1 Intermediate Três meses à espera NEW COMPLETION • A2+ Upper Beginner Coisas do banco NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Um dia sem internet NEW LISTEN • A2 Beginner Um dia sem internet NEW FILL-IN • A2 Beginner Uma rotina quase perfeita
Reads

Your Portuguese Learning Library. One Read at a Time.

Built for the hard part of European Portuguese.

Best for learners A2 and up who can read the language but still struggle to follow real speech and sound natural.

start free

No card required

Present Continuous in Portuguese

LEVEL A2 Beginner TOPIC Verbs auxiliary verbs present continuous progressive tenses

In Portuguese, as in English, we use the present continuous to talk about ongoing actions. Note, however, that the present continuous in the European and Brazilian standards look slightly different. 

Let’s take a quick look at it.  

European Portuguese

In European Portuguese, we form the present continuous with the auxiliary verb estar in the present tense followed by the main verb in the infinitive form. In between the two, there is the preposition a:

estar (present) + a + main verb (infinitive)

Estou a ver um filme.
I am watching a movie.

Ela está a comer.
She is eating.

! In Portuguese, there are 2 to-be verbs. Learn more about it: Portuguese Verbs Ser vs. Estar: How and When to Use Either.

Brazilian Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese, we form the present continuous with the auxiliary verb estar  in present tense followed by the main verb in the gerund form. There’s no preposition in between the two verbs:

estar (present) + main verb (gerund)

Estou vendo um filme.
I am watching a movie.

Ela está comendo.
She is eating.

! The Portuguese gerund corresponds to the English present participle. Learn more about it: Portuguese Gerund: Progressive Tenses and Beyond

“Estar” vs. “andar”

In European Portuguese, we often use the auxiliary andar instead of estar to talk about ongoing actions. 

However, this only applies to ongoing actions that have been unfolding over the last days, weeks, or even months (as opposed to ongoing actions concerning the present moment):

andar (present) + a + main verb (infinitive)

Ando a fazer um curso de Português.
(= Estou a fazer um curso de Português.)
I am taking a course in Portuguese. (over the last few weeks)

Reading tips → Portuguese Regular Verbs in the Present Tense.

Related content you might find useful

Lesson
A2+
Verbspresent continuouspresent tenseprogressive tenses

Portuguese Present Continuous

To express ongoing actions in Portuguese, the present continuous tense is used. This construction mirrors English in function, combining estar with the verb’s gerund…

Open
Choice
A2
Verbspresent continuouspresent tenseprogressive tenses

Estamos a descansar

Mark the sentences that emphasize that the action is taking place at the present moment.

Open
Lesson
B1
Verbsgerundpast continuouspresent continuousprogressive tenses

Portuguese Gerúndio

To talk about actions in progress, Portuguese relies on the Gerúndio—its version of the English present participle.

Open

Real European Portuguese is harder than the textbook

If you can read Portuguese but real speech is still hard to follow, Portuguesepedia is built for that gap. A deep library of real EP audio, organized by level and topic, with AI-powered practice built in.

start free

No card required.

What learners say

I love the mix of formats. The listening pieces, short reads, exercises, and idioms cover different angles, so I don't get stuck doing the same thing. It keeps me coming back.

~ Olivia ~

It doesn’t feel like studying in the boring sense. The tone is light, but the practice is solid, and I’ve noticed I can put sentences together more easily.

~ Giulia ~

Everything feels well put together. I'll listen to something at my level, check a quick explanation when I'm confused, and then do a practice exercise. Everything I need is in one place and easy to find.

~ Liam ~

Portuguese used to feel messy, like I was putting in effort but not getting results. With Portuguesepedia, I can focus on what I actually need, and I’ve started noticing real improvement week by week.

~ Ebba ~

Something clicked after a few weeks. Real Portuguese started making more sense — not just on paper, but when I'm actually listening. I hadn't felt that kind of progress before.

~ Maria ~

I’d been trying to learn Portuguese for years, but I never felt confident using it. Textbooks were too much, and speaking classes made me freeze. With Portuguesepedia, things finally started to make sense.

~ Emely ~