Regular -ER verbs, another significant group in Spanish, follow a predictable pattern in the past progressive tense.
Forming the Gerund of Regular -ER Verbs
Creating the gerund is simple: remove the “-er” ending from the infinitive and add “-iendo.”
- Example: Correr (to run) → Corriendo (running)
- Example: Aprender (to learn) → Aprendiendo (learning)
- Example: Beber (to drink) → Bebiendo (drinking)
Constructing the Past Progressive Tense
Combine the gerund with the imperfect tense of the verb “estar” (to be) to build the past progressive tense:
| Pronoun | Estar (Imperfect) | Gerund (Example: Comer) | Past Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | comiendo | estaba comiendo |
| Tú | estabas | comiendo | estabas comiendo |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estaba | comiendo | estaba comiendo |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | estábamos | comiendo | estábamos comiendo |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estaban | comiendo | estaban comiendo |
Examples:
- “Yo estaba bebiendo agua.” (I was drinking water.)
- “Ella estaba leyendo un libro.” (She was reading a book.)
- “Ellos estaban comiendo en el restaurante.” (They were eating at the restaurant.)
Synonyms
- English: Regular -ER Past Progressive Verbs
- Spanish: Verbos Regulares en -ER en Pretérito Imperfecto Progresivo