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Imperfect Progressive

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:

    Soundhablar ---> Soundhablando (talking)
    Soundcomer ---> Soundcomiendo (eating)
    Soundvivir ---> Soundviviendo (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:

Sound hablar (example sentences)(full conjugation)

yo Soundestaba hablando (I was talking)
Soundestabas hablando (you were talking)
él/ella/ Ud. Soundestaba hablando (he/she/you were talking)
nosotros (as) Soundestábamos hablando (we were talking)
vosotros (as) Soundestabais hablando (you guys were talking)
ellos/ ellas/
Uds.
Soundestaban 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.

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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Vocabulary

Soundfutbol - soccer
Soundzoológico - zoo
Soundrosa - rose
Soundrojo - red
Soundaguacate - avocado
Soundpijama - pajama

vocab

Exercises

General

multiple choice 1 more

Use of Imperfect Progressive

estaba estabas estábamos estabais estaban



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