estar a + Infinitive
Action in Progress: Estar a + Infinitive
Estar a + infinitive describes an action in progress, just like estar + gerund: Estou a ler (I am reading), Que estás a facer? (What are you doing?).
How It Works
Form: estar + a + infinitive.
- Estou a ler, estás a facer, estabamos a xogar.
Meaning: an action in progress, exactly like estar + gerund: Estou a ler = Estou lendo. Both are standard. Some speakers and areas prefer one or the other, but either is correct.
About to happen: with verbs like chegar and vir, it can mean the action is just about to happen: O autobús está a chegar (the bus is about to arrive). Context makes the meaning clear.
Pronouns attach to the infinitive, where o, a become lo, la after the -r: Estou a facelo. They can also attach to estar: Estouno a facer.
Do not mix the two patterns: say Estou a ler or Estou lendo, never Estou a lendo.
Examples (6)
- Estou a ler un libro moi bo.
I'm reading a very good book.
Word by Word: I-am to read a book very good.
- Que estás a facer?
What are you doing?
- Os nenos estaban a xogar no xardín.
The children were playing in the garden.
- Estamos a preparar a cea.
We're making dinner.
- Estou a facelo agora mesmo.
I'm doing it right now.
facer + o → facelo: after the -r, o becomes lo.
- Corre, que o autobús está a chegar!
Hurry, the bus is about to arrive!
With chegar, estar a can mean something is just about to happen.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the preposition a.
Estou ler un libro.Estou a ler un libro.This pattern needs a between estar and the infinitive. Without a, use the gerund instead: Estou lendo un libro.
Mixing a with the gerund.
Estou a lendo un libro.Estou a ler un libro.There are two correct patterns, estar a + infinitive and estar + gerund. The preposition a goes only with the infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Estar a plus an infinitive presents an action in progress.
Related Patterns
- estar + GerundAction in Progress: Estar + Gerund
The equally standard alternative with the same meaning.
Level 2 - The Preposition a
The preposition that links estar and the infinitive.
Level 1 - lo, la After -r and -sPronoun Forms Lo and La After -r and -s
Why facer + o becomes facelo in Estou a facelo.
Level 2 - estar a piques deAbout to: Estar a Piques De
A clearer way to say that something is about to happen.
Level 3 - comezar a / poñerse aStarting Actions
Other verb phrases with a + infinitive, for starting actions.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice estar a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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