Pasados Progresivos

Past progressives

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA

Last updated: 2022-12-19

Los pasados progresivos are Spanish past tenses that express actions that were in progress in the past. Spanish has four past progressive tenses:

Ella estuvo bailando con ese chico toda la noche.She was dancing with that guy all night.

Yo estaba planchando cuando llegó mi madre.I was ironing when my mother arrived.

Hemos estado hablando sobre las próximas vacaciones.We have been talking about the next holidays.

Tú habías estado jugando al rugby en el parque.You had been playing rugby in the park.

Forming the progressive imperfect with estar + present participle (El Imperfecto progresivo/continuo)
Forming the progressive preterite tense in Spanish with estar + present participle (El Indefinido Progresivo)
The Spanish imperfect progressive vs the Spanish preterite progressive (was +ing)
Forming the present perfect progressive tense in Spanish with estar + present participle (El Pretérito Perfecto Progresivo)
Forming the pluperfect progressive tense in Spanish with estar + present participle (El Pluscuamperfecto Progresivo)