Past Progressive in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Master the conjugation of estar in imperfect + gerund for past progressive
- Understand when to use past progressive vs. other past tenses
- Learn how to describe interrupted actions and simultaneous past events
- Practice setting scenes and telling stories about ongoing past actions
- Master pronoun placement with past progressive constructions
Describe Ongoing Actions in the Past
The past progressive (estar in imperfect + gerundio) is essential for telling stories and describing what was happening when something else occurred. Think of it as the Spanish equivalent of “was/were + -ing” in English. This tense helps you set the scene and create vivid descriptions of past events.
How to Form the Past Progressive (Cómo Formarlo)
The past progressive is formed with:
Estar (imperfect) + Gerund (-ndo form)
Imperfect Conjugation of Estar – The foundation for past progressive
| Subject | Estar (Imperfect) | Example with “trabajar” |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | Estaba trabajando (I was working) |
| Tú | estabas | Estabas trabajando (You were working) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estaba | Estaba trabajando (He/She was working) |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | estábamos | Estábamos trabajando (We were working) |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | estabais | Estabais trabajando (You all were working) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estaban | Estaban trabajando (They were working) |
Gerund Formation Review
| Verb Ending | Gerund Ending | Example | Past Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| -AR | -ando | hablar → hablando | Estaba hablando (I was speaking) |
| -ER | -iendo | comer → comiendo | Estaba comiendo (I was eating) |
| -IR | -iendo | vivir → viviendo | Estaba viviendo (I was living) |
💡 Grammar Tip: The gerund forms are the same as in present progressive! You only change the conjugation of “estar” to the imperfect tense.
Irregular and Stem-Changing Gerunds
Essential Irregular Gerunds – Same as present progressive
| Infinitive | Gerund | Past Progressive Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ir | yendo | Estaba yendo al cine cuando… | I was going to the movies when… |
| Leer | leyendo | Estaba leyendo un libro. | I was reading a book. |
| Oír | oyendo | Estábamos oyendo música. | We were listening to music. |
| Pedir | pidiendo | Estaba pidiendo ayuda. | I was asking for help. |
| Dormir | durmiendo | Estaban durmiendo tranquilamente. | They were sleeping peacefully. |
When to Use Past Progressive (Cuándo Usarlo)
Use this tense for:
- ✅ Interrupted Actions: An ongoing action that was interrupted
- ✅ Simultaneous Actions: Two or more actions happening at the same time
- ✅ Setting the Scene: Describing the background situation
- ✅ Specific Time in Past: What was happening at a precise past moment
Past Progressive vs. Other Past Tenses
| Past Progressive (Ongoing): | Preterite (Completed): | Imperfect (Descriptive): |
|---|---|---|
| Estaba lloviendo cuando salí. (It was raining when I left.) | Llovió toda la noche. (It rained all night.) | Llovía cada día. (It rained every day.) |
| Estaba estudiando a las 8. (I was studying at 8.) | Estudié por 2 horas. (I studied for 2 hours.) | Estudiaba en la universidad. (I studied at the university.) |
Common Sentence Structures
Interrupted Actions:
- “Estaba caminando por la calle cuando vi a María.”
- “Estábamos comiendo cuando sonó el teléfono.”
Simultaneous Actions:
- “Mientras yo estaba cocinando, mi hermano estaba limpiando.”
- “Estábamos viendo la televisión y estábamos hablando.”
Setting the Scene:
- “Estaba nevando y el viento estaba soplando fuerte.”
- “La gente estaba paseando y los niños estaban jugando.”
Pronoun Placement with Past Progressive
Option 1: Before the conjugated form of estar
- “Me estaba duchando cuando llegaste.”
- “Se estaban divirtiendo en la fiesta.”
Option 2: Attached to the end of the gerund
- “Estaba duchándome cuando llegaste.”
- “Estaban divirtiéndose en la fiesta.”
Examples with Object Pronouns:
- “Lo estaba haciendo cuando me llamaste.”
- “Estaba haciéndolo cuando me llamaste.”
Putting It All Together: Storytelling
Una Anécdota del Ayer
“Ayer estaba caminando por el parque cuando vi algo increíble. Estaba lloviendo suavemente y la gente estaba corriendo para protegerse. Mientras estaba buscando mi paraguas, escuché música. Un hombre estaba tocando el violín bajo un árbol. Todos estábamos escuchando cuando dejó de llover.”
Translation:
“Yesterday I was walking through the park when I saw something incredible. It was raining softly and people were running for cover. While I was looking for my umbrella, I heard music. A man was playing the violin under a tree. We were all listening when it stopped raining.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using preterite for ongoing actions: “Estudié cuando llamó” (wrong) → “Estaba estudiando cuando llamó” (correct)
- Wrong estar conjugation: “Estuve estudiando” (wrong for descriptions) → “Estaba estudiando” (correct)
- Forgetting gerund irregularities: “Estaba leiendo” (wrong) → “Estaba leyendo” (correct)
- Mixing tense purposes: Use past progressive for background, preterite for main events
- Misplacing pronouns: “Estaba me lavando” (wrong) → “Me estaba lavando” (correct)
Quick Reference Chart
| Element | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | estar (imperfect) + gerund | estaba hablando |
| Interrupted Actions | Past progressive + cuando + preterite | Estaba comiendo cuando sonó el teléfono |
| Simultaneous Actions | Mientras + past progressive | Mientras él estudiaba, ella cocinaba |
| Background Setting | Past progressive for description | Estaba nevando y la gente corría |
| Pronoun Placement | Before estar or attached to gerund | Me estaba bañando / Estaba bañándome |
Practice Exercise: Create Past Progressive Sentences
Create sentences using past progressive:
- (I/study) when (you/call).
- While (we/work), (they/play).
- (It/rain) all morning yesterday.
- (She/read) a book at 8 PM.
Answers:
- Estaba estudiando cuando llamaste.
- Mientras estábamos trabajando, estaban jugando.
- Estaba lloviendo toda la mañana ayer.
- Estaba leyendo un libro a las 8 de la noche.
📚 Review related topics: Present Progressive | Preterite vs. Imperfect
Ready to Tell Stories in the Past?
Think you’ve mastered the past progressive? Test your ability to describe ongoing past actions and tell compelling stories!
Take Our Past Progressive Quiz ►
