imperfect progressive in Spanish

Imperfect Progressive Tense in Spanish

Imperfect Progressive Tense in Spanish

What is the Imperfect Progressive tense in Spanish?

It’s time to learn how to conjugate the Imperfect Progressive tense in Spanish. Study Spanish verb conjugations with online lessons. Read about the Spanish grammar rules.

 ar, er, ir

The Imperfect Progressive expresses an action that was in progress in the past when it was interrupted by another event.

The Imperfect Progressive formula:

Imperfect Indicative of the verb “estar” + the Present Participle of the verb​.

“To Be” Imperfect Indicative + Present Participle (ending “-ing”)

 

Verbs that End in -ar

Subject-ar Endings

Yo (I)-estaba +…ando

 (You)(Informal)-estabas + …ando

Usted (You)(Formal)-estaba + …ando

Él/Ella(He/She)-estaba + …ando

Nosotros(as)(We)-estábamos + …ando

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-estábais + …ando

Ustedes(You)(Formal)-estaban + …ando

Ellos(as)(They)-estaban + …ando

 

SubjecthablarEnglish translation

Yo (I)Estaba hablandoI was speaking

 (You)(Informal)Estabas hablandoYou were speaking

Usted (You)(Formal)Estaba hablandoYou were speaking

Él/Ella(He/She)Estaba hablandoHe/She was speaking

Nosotros(as)(We)Estábamos hablandoWe were speaking

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)Estábais hablandoYou were speaking

Ustedes(You)(Formal)Estaban hablandoYou were speaking

Ellos(as)(They)Estaban hablandoThey were speaking

 

Verbs that End in -er

Subject-er Endings

Yo (I)-estaba +…iendo

 (You)(Informal)-estabas + … iendo

Usted (You)(Formal)-estaba + … iendo

Él/Ella(He/She)-estaba + … iendo

Nosotros(as)(We)-estábamos + … iendo

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-estábais + … iendo

Ustedes(You)(Formal)-estaban + … iendo

Ellos(as)(They)-estaban + … iendo

 

 

SubjectcomerEnglish translation

Yo (I)Estaba comiendoI was eating

 (You)(Informal)Estabas comiendoYou were eating

Usted (You)(Formal)Estaba comiendoYou were eating

Él/Ella(He/She)Estaba comiendoHe/She was eating

Nosotros(as)(We)Estábamos comiendoWe were eating

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)Estábais comiendoYou were eating

Ustedes(You)(Formal)Estaban comiendoYou were eating

Ellos(as)(They)Estaban comiendoThey were eating

 

Verbs that End in -ir

Subject-ir Endings

Yo (I)-estaba +…iendo

 (You)(Informal)-estabas + … iendo

Usted (You)(Formal)-estaba + … iendo

Él/Ella(He/She)-estaba + … iendo

Nosotros(as)(We)-estábamos + … iendo

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-estábais + … iendo

Ustedes(You)(Formal)-estaban + … iendo

Ellos(as)(They)-estaban + … iendo

 

 

SubjectvivirEnglish translation

Yo (I)Estaba viviendoI was living

 (You)(Informal)Estabas viviendoYou were living

Usted (You)(Formal)Estaba viviendoYou were living

Él/Ella(He/She)Estaba viviendoHe/She was living

Nosotros(as)(We)Estábamos viviendoWe were living

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)Estábais viviendoYou were living

Ustedes(You)(Formal)Estaban viviendoYou were living

Ellos(as)(They)Estaban viviendoThey were living

 

Let’s look at some examples of sentences that use the Imperfect Progressive:
 
Estaba comiendo un sándwich.- I was eating a sandwich.
Los niños 
estaban jugando.- The kids were playing.
Estábamos viendo una película. – We were watching a movie.
 

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