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

Tú (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

 

Subject–hablar–English translation

Yo (I)–Estaba hablando–I was speaking

Tú (You)(Informal)–Estabas hablando–You were speaking

Usted (You)(Formal)–Estaba hablando–You were speaking

Él/Ella(He/She)–Estaba hablando–He/She was speaking

Nosotros(as)(We)–Estábamos hablando–We were speaking

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–Estábais hablando–You were speaking

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–Estaban hablando–You were speaking

Ellos(as)(They)–Estaban hablando–They were speaking

 

Verbs that End in -er

Subject-er Endings

Yo (I)-estaba +…iendo

Tú (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

 

 

Subject–comer–English translation

Yo (I)–Estaba comiendo–I was eating

Tú (You)(Informal)–Estabas comiendo–You were eating

Usted (You)(Formal)–Estaba comiendo–You were eating

Él/Ella(He/She)–Estaba comiendo–He/She was eating

Nosotros(as)(We)–Estábamos comiendo–We were eating

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–Estábais comiendo–You were eating

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–Estaban comiendo–You were eating

Ellos(as)(They)–Estaban comiendo–They were eating

 

Verbs that End in -ir

Subject-ir Endings

Yo (I)-estaba +…iendo

Tú (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

 

 

Subject–vivir–English translation

Yo (I)–Estaba viviendo–I was living

Tú (You)(Informal)–Estabas viviendo–You were living

Usted (You)(Formal)–Estaba viviendo–You were living

Él/Ella(He/She)–Estaba viviendo–He/She was living

Nosotros(as)(We)–Estábamos viviendo–We were living

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–Estábais viviendo–You were living

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–Estaban viviendo–You were living

Ellos(as)(They)–Estaban viviendo–They 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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