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 used similar to the imperfect. It is essential when discussing an action that was in progress at the moment it was interrupted.

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