In Spanish, how many ways are there to form the progressive tenses?

Question

I have been studying Spanish for a few years, and I know that somewhere along the way I saw the form "estar (conjugated) + a + infinitivo" as an additional way to describe progressive actions. For example:

Estoy comiendo.
Estoy a comer.

Is this correct? Is it only seen in writing, or do people say this in spoken Spanish as well?

Just to add more detail after viewing a response:
When I mention "estoy a comer", I don't mean to say "I'm going to eat." I have seen this form written on several occassions in my studies, and I have always translated it as another construction for the progressive tenses. So my question is whether it is correct as a progressive tense (showing the same meaning as "estoy comiendo"), or does it have some other significance?

Answer 1

i live in mexico and i can tell you that nobody talks like that. "Estoy a comer" is only used in spain (i think, i'm not sure, but i know i've heard that somewhere else), and maybe in some books, but it's not common.
you'd rather say "estoy a punto de comer" = i'm about to eat

Good luck

Answer 2

Estoy comiendo is if you are in a middle of an action. But "estoy a comer" doesn´t exist.

In that Marie is right as the best way to say it would be "Voy a comer".


But, if you are trying to use the verb "estar" + infinitive, the only way would be if you introduce another word(s) in between, for example

I am on the point of eating a cake.
Estoy a punto de comer un pastel.

He is closed to finishing his homework.
El está cerca de terminar sus tareas escolares.

As you can see between the verb "estar" and the infiitive of another one you have something else, but no a like a comer.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Estoy comiendo is correct. Estoy a comer is not. The correct way to say this would be, Voy a comer, meaning, I'm going to eat.

Answer 4

i am going to eat = Voy a comer she is going to eat= ella VA a comer, in this case yo uonly have to learn the verb to go

to say i am eating, he is studying she was running
you just use the NOUn + verb To be+ verb (and finish it with ando or iendo)
YO + Estoy+ Caminando
ella +estaba + comiendo