How do you form the present progressive in Italian?

Use the present tense of stare (sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno) and the gerund of the main verb. The gerund ends in -ando for -are verbs and in -endo for -ere and -ire verbs: sto parlando, sto leggendo, sto dormendo.

Why does Italian use stare and not essere for the progressive?

Stare originally meant to stand or to remain, so stare + gerund describes someone who is in the middle of an action. Essere plus a gerund is not possible in Italian. English to be + -ing translates as stare + gerund, or as the simple present.

Is sto mangiando the same as mangio?

Both can translate I am eating. Sto mangiando stresses that the action is happening at this exact moment. Mangio is more general and can also mean I eat. In many sentences either form is correct.

Can I use the present progressive for the future in Italian?

No. English I'm leaving tomorrow becomes domani parto in Italian, with the simple present. Sto partendo only means that you are leaving right now.

Where do pronouns go in the Italian present progressive?

Before stare, or attached to the end of the gerund: lo sto facendo or sto facendolo. Both are correct. The first is more common in everyday speech.

Italian grammar · Beginner

Italian Present Progressive

Written by Parrot Italian Team, Italian Curriculum Editors · Reviewed October 2026

The Italian present progressive (stare + gerundio) describes an action that is in progress at this exact moment. You form it with the present tense of stare and the gerund of the main verb: sto parlando, I am speaking. Italian uses it less than English does, because the simple present also covers most English -ing sentences.

Sto cucinando, ti richiamo dopo.

I'm cooking, I'll call you back later.

What it is

English uses to be + -ing for anything happening now. Italian uses stare, not essere, plus the gerund, and keeps it for actions that are truly in progress at the moment of speaking. Sto mangiando means I am eating right now. For habits, general statements, and plans, Italian uses the simple present instead.

stare + gerund: sto parlando, stai leggendo, sta dormendo.

How to spot it

Look for a form of stare (sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno) followed by a word ending in -ando or -endo.

Sta piovendo. (It's raining.)
Stiamo guardando un film. (We're watching a film.)
Che cosa stai facendo? (What are you doing?)
I bambini stanno dormendo. (The children are sleeping.)

Only stare changes for the person. The gerund (parlando, leggendo) never changes for gender or number.

Present Progressive Quick Reference

Stare + gerund for -are, -ere, and -ire verbs

Subject	stare	parlare (-ando)	leggere (-endo)	dormire (-endo)
io	sto	sto parlando	sto leggendo	sto dormendo
tu	stai	stai parlando	stai leggendo	stai dormendo
lui / lei / Lei	sta	sta parlando	sta leggendo	sta dormendo
noi	stiamo	stiamo parlando	stiamo leggendo	stiamo dormendo
voi	state	state parlando	state leggendo	state dormendo
loro	stanno	stanno parlando	stanno leggendo	stanno dormendo

Common Present Progressive Examples in Italian

The Italian present progressive in real sentences:

Right Now

Sto cucinando, ti richiamo dopo.: I'm cooking, I'll call you back later.
Aspetta, sto finendo un'email.: Wait, I'm finishing an email.
Sta piovendo forte.: It's raining hard.

These actions are happening at the moment of speaking, which is the core use of the progressive.

With Object and Reflexive Pronouns

Ti sto ascoltando.: I'm listening to you.
Mi sto preparando per uscire.: I'm getting ready to go out.
Lo stiamo cercando.: We're looking for it.

The pronoun usually goes before stare. It can also attach to the gerund: sto ascoltandoti, sto preparandomi.

Situations That Are Changing

I prezzi stanno aumentando.: Prices are going up.
Mio figlio sta crescendo in fretta.: My son is growing up fast.

A gradual change that is still going on also takes the progressive.

In the Past

Stavo uscendo quando hai chiamato.: I was going out when you called.
Stavamo guardando la partita.: We were watching the match.

Put stare in the imperfetto (stavo, stavi, stava) to say what was in progress in the past.

How the Italian Present Progressive Is Formed

Conjugate stare, add the gerund, and use the form only for actions in progress.

Stare, Not Essere

The helper verb is always stare. Essere plus a gerund does not exist in Italian, even though English uses to be in this construction.

Sto lavorando.

I'm working.

sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno.

-are Verbs Take -ando

Remove -are and add -ando. The ending is the same for every person, because only stare shows who is acting.

Stanno parlando di te.

They're talking about you.

parlare → parlando, mangiare → mangiando.

-ere and -ire Verbs Take -endo

Remove -ere or -ire and add -endo. The -isc- verbs do not add -isc- in the gerund: finire gives finendo, and capire gives capendo.

Stai capendo?

Are you following?

leggere → leggendo, partire → partendo, finire → finendo.

Pronouns Before Stare or After the Gerund

Object and reflexive pronouns go before stare, or they attach to the end of the gerund. Both are correct. The first is more common in speech.

Me lo sta spiegando.

He's explaining it to me.

Me lo sta spiegando = Sta spiegandomelo.

The Past Progressive Uses Stavo

The same structure works in the past with stare in the imperfetto. It often sets the scene for an event that interrupts it, as English I was doing something when does.

Stavo dormendo quando mi hai chiamato.

I was sleeping when you called me.

stavo, stavi, stava, stavamo, stavate, stavano + gerund.

Common Mistakes with Present Progressive

Incorrect: Sono mangiando. (I'm eating.)

Correct: Sto mangiando. (I'm eating.)

English uses to be, so learners reach for essere. The Italian progressive always uses stare.

Incorrect: Domani sto partendo per Roma. (I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow.)

Correct: Domani parto per Roma. (I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow.)

English uses the -ing form for plans. Italian uses the simple present, and keeps stare + gerund for actions in progress now.

Incorrect: Sto fando i compiti. (I'm doing my homework.)

Correct: Sto facendo i compiti. (I'm doing my homework.)

Fare builds its gerund on the old stem fac-, so the form is facendo. Dire (dicendo) and bere (bevendo) work the same way.

Incorrect: Sto essendo stanco. (I'm tired.)

Correct: Sono stanco. (I'm tired.)

Essere describes a state, not an action in progress, so Italian does not use it in the progressive.

Irregular Gerunds and the Past Progressive

A few common verbs build their gerund from an older Latin stem. The rest of the construction stays regular.

Verbs With Irregular Gerunds

Fare, dire, bere, and tradurre take the stem of their imperfetto (facevo, dicevo, bevevo, traducevo).

Pronoun	fare (facendo)	dire (dicendo)	bere (bevendo)	tradurre (traducendo)
io	sto facendo	sto dicendo	sto bevendo	sto traducendo
tu	stai facendo	stai dicendo	stai bevendo	stai traducendo
lui / lei / Lei	sta facendo	sta dicendo	sta bevendo	sta traducendo
noi	stiamo facendo	stiamo dicendo	stiamo bevendo	stiamo traducendo
voi	state facendo	state dicendo	state bevendo	state traducendo
loro	stanno facendo	stanno dicendo	stanno bevendo	stanno traducendo

Porre and verbs built on it work the same way: porre → ponendo, proporre → proponendo.

Present vs Past Progressive

Change stare from the present to the imperfetto to move the action into the past. The gerund does not change.

Pronoun	present (mangiare)	past (mangiare)
io	sto mangiando	stavo mangiando
tu	stai mangiando	stavi mangiando
lui / lei / Lei	sta mangiando	stava mangiando
noi	stiamo mangiando	stavamo mangiando
voi	state mangiando	stavate mangiando
loro	stanno mangiando	stavano mangiando

The plain imperfetto (mangiavo) can also mean I was eating. Stavo mangiando stresses that the action was in progress.

When Not to Use the Progressive in Italian

English uses the -ing form in many places where Italian prefers the simple present.

Plans and arrangements

English says I'm leaving tomorrow. Italian uses the simple present for a future plan, not stare + gerund.

Domani parto per Roma.: I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow.
Sabato vediamo i nonni.: We're seeing our grandparents on Saturday.

Sto partendo means I am leaving right now, for example as you walk out of the door.

States and long-term situations

Verbs of state such as essere, avere, sapere, and conoscere are not normally used in the progressive. For long-term situations, the simple present is the natural choice.

Sono stanco.: I'm tired.
Quest'anno abito con mio fratello.: This year I'm living with my brother.

If the situation is temporary and you want to stress it, the progressive is possible with an action verb: in questo periodo sto lavorando molto.

Stare per: about to

Stare per + infinitive is a different construction. It means to be about to do something.

Sto per uscire.: I'm about to go out.
Il film sta per cominciare.: The film is about to start.

Compare sto uscendo (I'm going out now) with sto per uscire (I'm about to go out).

Quick Check: Present Progressive

Complete each sentence with stare + gerund.

1. (leggere) Silvia ___ il giornale.

Answer: sta leggendo

-ere verbs take -endo.

2. (fare) Che cosa ___ voi?

Answer: state facendo

Fare has the irregular gerund facendo.

3. (dormire) Non fate rumore, il bambino ___.

Answer: sta dormendo

-ire verbs take -endo.

4. (bere) Io ___ un caffè.

Answer: sto bevendo

Bere has the irregular gerund bevendo.

5. (arrivare) Il treno ___ in stazione.

Answer: sta arrivando

-are verbs take -ando.

Present Progressive FAQs

How do you form the present progressive in Italian?: Use the present tense of stare (sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno) and the gerund of the main verb. The gerund ends in -ando for -are verbs and in -endo for -ere and -ire verbs: sto parlando, sto leggendo, sto dormendo.
Why does Italian use stare and not essere for the progressive?: Stare originally meant to stand or to remain, so stare + gerund describes someone who is in the middle of an action. Essere plus a gerund is not possible in Italian. English to be + -ing translates as stare + gerund, or as the simple present.
Is sto mangiando the same as mangio?: Both can translate I am eating. Sto mangiando stresses that the action is happening at this exact moment. Mangio is more general and can also mean I eat. In many sentences either form is correct.
Can I use the present progressive for the future in Italian?: No. English I'm leaving tomorrow becomes domani parto in Italian, with the simple present. Sto partendo only means that you are leaving right now.
Where do pronouns go in the Italian present progressive?: Before stare, or attached to the end of the gerund: lo sto facendo or sto facendolo. Both are correct. The first is more common in everyday speech.