The instructions say: "Change the verbs from the present tense to the present progressive" and gives the following example but no answer "Yo miro la television." What do I do?

For the present progressive, conjugate the verb "estar" to agree with your subject. That is followed by the present participle of the verb.

The forms of estar are: (yo) estoy, (tú) estás, (él, ella, Ud.) está, (nosotros) estamos, y (ellos, ellas, Uds.) están.

The present participles are formed by...

-ar verbs: add -ando to the stem
hablar -> hablando

-er & -ir verbs: add -iendo to the stem
comer -> comiendo
vivir -> viviendo

For example...
Estoy mirando la television.
I am watching the television.

Estoy hablando.
I am speaking.

Juan está comiendo.
John is eating.

María está escribiendo una carta.
Mary is writing a letter.

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. In addition to Michael's help, here is some additional information.

Verbs ending in -yendo
caer = cayendo
creer = creyendo
leer = leyendo
oír = oyendo
traer = trayendo

Irregular Verbs in the
Gerund (-ndo form)

decir = diciendo
dormir = durmiendo
morir = muriendo
pedir = pidiendo
sentir = sintiendo
venir = viniendo
ir = yendo
poder = pudiendo

Uses of the Gerund (Present Participle)

1. It is used with the verbs: estar (most often), seguir, continuar and verbs of motion, to stress the fact that an event is (or was, or will be) in progress or is continuing at the moment ndicated.

2. The gerunds of estar, ir, and venir are not used to form the progressive tenses. Instead the simple tenses are used (viene = is coming)

3. The Spanish gerund is often the 3quivalent of "by + an English present participle."
Viajando, se aprende mucho = By traveling, one learns much. (a lot)
Estudiando, saldrás bien en los exámenes = By studying, you will pass the examinations.

Sra

To change the verb from the present tense to the present progressive, you need to use the present tense of the verb "estar" (to be) followed by the present participle (-ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er/-ir verbs).

Using the given example "Yo miro la televisión," the steps to change it to the present progressive are:

1. Identify the verb: "mirar."
2. Conjugate the verb "estar" in the present tense according to the subject pronoun. In this case, the subject pronoun is "yo," so the conjugation would be "estoy."
3. Add the present participle of the main verb "mirar" by changing the -ar ending to -ando. "Mirar" becomes "mirando."
4. Put it all together: "Yo estoy mirando la televisión."

Hence, the present progressive form of "Yo miro la televisión" is "Yo estoy mirando la televisión."

To change the verb from the present tense to the present progressive, you need to use the correct form of the verb "estar" (to be) followed by the present participle of the main verb (-ing form in English). Here's how you can apply this rule to the example sentence "Yo miro la televisión" (I watch TV):

1. Identify the present tense verb in the sentence. In this case, it is "miro" (I watch).
2. Determine the appropriate form of the verb "estar" for the subject "yo." In this case, it is "estoy" (I am).
3. Convert the main verb "mirar" (to watch) into its present participle form. The present participle of "mirar" is "mirando" (watching).
4. Combine the form of "estar" with the present participle. "Estoy mirando" means "I am watching."

So, by following these steps, you would change "Yo miro la televisión" to "Yo estoy mirando la televisión," which means "I am watching TV."