estar a + Infinitive
Estar a + Infinitive (European Progressive)
Use estar a + infinitive to describe what is happening right now or a temporary ongoing situation in European Portuguese.
How It Works
The estar a + infinitivo construction is the standard way to express the present continuous in Portugal. While it is the official standard in PALOP countries (like Angola and Mozambique), the gerund form is actually the predominant form in spoken language in those regions. It consists of three parts:
1. The auxiliary verb estar, conjugated to match the subject.
2. The fixed preposition a.
3. The impersonal infinitive of the main verb.
Pronoun Placement:
In European Portuguese, object pronouns usually follow the infinitive: Estou a vê-lo. Note that when using -lo/-la, the final '-r' of the infinitive is dropped (e.g., ver becomes vê-lo).
Informal Variation:
In informal spoken Portuguese, it is extremely common to place the pronoun between the auxiliary and the preposition: Estou-me a vestir (I am getting dressed) instead of Estou a vestir-me. If a 'magnetic' word like não is present, the pronoun moves before the auxiliary: Não o estou a ver.
Examples (6)
- Estou a ler um livro muito interessante.
I am reading a very interesting book.
Word by Word: I-am to read a book very interesting.
Uses 'estou' (1st person singular) + 'a' + 'ler' (infinitive) to show an ongoing action.
- O que é que estás a fazer?
What are you doing?
Word by Word: The what is that you-are to do?
A common question using the 'tu' form of 'estar'.
- Eles estão a chegar agora mesmo.
They are arriving right now.
Word by Word: They are to arrive now even.
Shows an action happening at the exact moment of speaking.
- Nós estamos a almoçar, ligamos depois.
We are having lunch, we'll call later.
Word by Word: We are to lunch, we-call after.
Uses the 'nós' form to describe a collective ongoing activity.
- Ela está a aprender português em Lisboa.
She is learning Portuguese in Lisbon.
Word by Word: She is to learn Portuguese in Lisbon.
Describes a temporary ongoing situation rather than just the immediate second.
- Estou a vê-lo agora.
I am seeing him now.
Word by Word: I-am to see-him now.
When using '-lo', the final '-r' of 'ver' is dropped.
Common Mistakes
Using the Brazilian gerund (-ndo) in a European context.
Estou falando com ele.Estou a falar com ele.While 'falando' is correct in Brazil, in Portugal it sounds foreign. Use 'a + infinitive' for a natural European sound.
Adding an accent to the preposition 'a'.
Estou à comer.Estou a comer.The 'a' in this construction is a simple preposition, not a contraction (à). It never takes an accent before a verb.
Forgetting the accent on the verb 'estar'.
Estas a trabalhar?Estás a trabalhar?'Estas' (without accent) means 'these' (feminine). 'Estás' (with accent) is the conjugated form of 'estar' for 'tu'.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- estar + GerundPresent Progressive
This is the Brazilian equivalent of the progressive aspect, using the gerund instead of 'a + infinitive'.
Level 2 - estou/estás/está/estamos/estãoEstar Present Tense
The auxiliary verb 'estar' must be conjugated correctly in the present tense to use this pattern.
Foundations - Enclisis (Pronoun After Verb)
Explains how to attach object pronouns to the infinitive in this construction (e.g., 'a fazê-lo').
Level 2 - não + Pronoun + VerbProclisis with Negation
Explains why pronouns move before 'estar' when the sentence is negative.
Level 2 - estar + AdjectiveEstar for Conditions
Both patterns use 'estar' to describe temporary states, whether they are actions or conditions.
Level 1
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice estar a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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