Quick answer
estoy trabajando
For an action happening right now. Spanish uses it much less than English, because the plain present already covers "I am doing".
How to build it
estar in the right person, plus the gerundio: -ando for -ar verbs, -iendo for -er and -ir verbs.
| Verb | Gerundio |
|---|---|
| hablar | hablando |
| comer | comiendo |
| vivir | viviendo |
| leer | leyendo |
| dormir | durmiendo |
| pedir | pidiendo |
| ir | yendo |
The gerundio never changes for person or gender. Only estar moves.
Only for right now
Spanish reserves it for an action in progress at this moment. Plans, habits and the near future all take the simple present.
Note that estar siendo and the progressive of ir and venir are avoided almost entirely.
Where the pronoun goes
Either before estar or attached to the gerundio. Attaching adds a written accent.
Memory trick
Ask whether the action is physically under way as you speak. If it is about later today or about life in general, use the plain present.
Typical mistakes
Estoy yendo a Madrid mañana.
Voy a Madrid mañana.
A future plan takes the simple present. The progressive would mean you are on the road right now.
Estoy comer.
Estoy comiendo.
Estar needs the gerundio, never the infinitive.
Estoy durmiendo mucho estos días.
Duermo mucho estos días.
A repeated habit over several days is not an action in progress, so the plain present fits.
Check yourself
No puedo hablar, ___ conduciendo.