Back to: Spanish Verb Tenses Practice – Course
Lesson #10: Imperfect Progressive in Spanish
In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate the Imperfect Progressive in Spanish using the infinitives -ar, -er, and -ir. The Imperfect Progressive is used to describe actions that were happening at a specific point in the past, and it is formed by combining the imperfect tense of the verb “estar” with the present participle of the main verb.
Objective:
By the end of this lesson, you will:
- Understand how to form the Imperfect Progressive tense.
- Learn how to conjugate verbs in the Imperfect Progressive.
- Be able to apply this tense in different contexts.
- Complete a 5-question quiz about the Imperfect Progressive.
1. How to Form the Imperfect Progressive:
To form the Imperfect Progressive, we use two elements:
- The verb “estar” in the imperfect tense (to be).
- The present participle of the main verb (the “-ing” form of the verb).
The present participle is created by:
- For -ar verbs: Adding -ando to the verb stem.
- For -er and -ir verbs: Adding -iendo to the verb stem.
2. Conjugating the Verb “Estar” in the Imperfect Tense:
Here is the conjugation of estar in the imperfect tense:
| Subject | Estar (Imperfect) |
|---|---|
| Yo | estaba |
| Tú | estabas |
| Él/Ella | estaba |
| Nosotros | estábamos |
| Vosotros | estabais |
| Ellos/Ellas | estaban |
3. The Present Participle:
- -ar verbs: Add -ando.
- -er and -ir verbs: Add -iendo.
Some irregular verbs may have their own unique present participles. For example:
- Ir (to go) → yendo.
4. Conjugation Examples:
For -ar Verbs (Example: Hablar – to speak):
| Subject | Estar (Imperfect) | Present Participle (-ando) | Full Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | hablando | Yo estaba hablando. |
| Tú | estabas | hablando | Tú estabas hablando. |
| Él/Ella | estaba | hablando | Él/Ella estaba hablando. |
| Nosotros | estábamos | hablando | Nosotros estábamos hablando. |
| Vosotros | estabais | hablando | Vosotros estabais hablando. |
| Ellos/Ellas | estaban | hablando | Ellos/Ellas estaban hablando. |
For -er Verbs (Example: Comer – to eat):
| Subject | Estar (Imperfect) | Present Participle (-iendo) | Full Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | comiendo | Yo estaba comiendo. |
| Tú | estabas | comiendo | Tú estabas comiendo. |
| Él/Ella | estaba | comiendo | Él/Ella estaba comiendo. |
| Nosotros | estábamos | comiendo | Nosotros estábamos comiendo. |
| Vosotros | estabais | comiendo | Vosotros estabais comiendo. |
| Ellos/Ellas | estaban | comiendo | Ellos/Ellas estaban comiendo. |
For -ir Verbs (Example: Vivir – to live):
| Subject | Estar (Imperfect) | Present Participle (-iendo) | Full Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | viviendo | Yo estaba viviendo. |
| Tú | estabas | viviendo | Tú estabas viviendo. |
| Él/Ella | estaba | viviendo | Él/Ella estaba viviendo. |
| Nosotros | estábamos | viviendo | Nosotros estábamos viviendo. |
| Vosotros | estabais | viviendo | Vosotros estabais viviendo. |
| Ellos/Ellas | estaban | viviendo | Ellos/Ellas estaban viviendo. |
5. Irregular Present Participles:
Some verbs have irregular present participles. Here are a few examples:
- Ir (to go) → Yendo
Example: Yo estaba yendo a la tienda. (I was going to the store.) - Leer (to read) → Leyendo
Example: Tú estabas leyendo un libro. (You were reading a book.)
6. Usage of the Imperfect Progressive:
The Imperfect Progressive is used to describe actions that were happening over a period of time in the past. It is often used when describing:
- Actions that were in progress in the past.
- Two actions happening simultaneously.
- Actions that were interrupted by another action.
Examples:
- Yo estaba comiendo cuando sonó el teléfono.
(I was eating when the phone rang.) - Ellos estaban estudiando mientras nosotros mirábamos la televisión.
(They were studying while we were watching television.)
7. Quick Recap:
To conjugate in the Imperfect Progressive:
- Use the imperfect conjugation of the verb estar.
- Add the present participle form of the main verb.
Structure: [Estar (Imperfect)] + [Present Participle]
Example:
- Yo estaba cantando. (I was singing.)
- Ella estaba trabajando. (She was working.)
8. Quiz:
Now it’s time to test what you’ve learned! Please answer the following 5 questions about the Imperfect Progressive tense.
- How do you form the Imperfect Progressive tense in Spanish?
- What is the imperfect conjugation of the verb estar for the subject yo?
- What is the present participle of the verb leer (to read)?
- How do you say “They were running” in Spanish?
- What is the imperfect progressive form of the verb trabajar (to work) for the subject nosotros?
9. Conclusion:
You have learned how to conjugate verbs in the Imperfect Progressive tense in Spanish. This tense is essential for describing actions that were happening at a particular point in the past. Keep practicing to become more confident in using this tense correctly!
We wish you the best of luck in your learning process!