Imperfect Progressive

The "imperfect progressive" tense is formed using the formula below:

imperfect indicative conjugation of estar + present participle of verb = imperfect progressive

The present participle (gerund) is formed with the stem of the verb plus -ando (for -ar verbs) or -iendo (for -er and -ir verbs). For example:

hablar ---> hablando (talking)
comer ---> comiendo (eating)
vivir ---> viviendo (living)

Example: the present participle of hablar (to speak) is hablando. The table below shows the conjugation of estar and the proper formation of the imperfect progressive:

hablar (example sentences)(full conjugation)

yo	estaba hablando	(I was talking)
tú	estabas hablando	(you were talking)
él/ella/ Ud.	estaba hablando	(he/she/you were talking)
nosotros (as)	estábamos hablando	(we were talking)
vosotros (as)	estabais hablando	(you guys were talking)
ellos/ ellas/ Uds.	estaban hablando	(you all/they were talking)

The imperfect progressive is similar in usage to the imperfect, but with an emphasis on the fact that the action was in progress at the moment it was interrupted.

Note:
m = male f = female mix = mixed group
yo = I, tú = you (informal)
usted (Ud.) = you (formal)
él = he, ella = she
nosotros = we (m/mix), nosotras = we (f)
vosotros = you guys (informal, m/mix)
vosotras = you guys (informal, f)
ellos = they (m/mix), ellas = they (f)
ustedes (Uds.) = you all (formal)

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