Regular -IR verbs, like their -ER counterparts, follow a consistent pattern when forming the gerund in the past progressive tense.
Forming the Gerund of Regular -IR Verbs
To create the gerund, simply remove the “-ir” ending from the infinitive and add “-iendo.”
- Example: Vivir (to live) → Viviendo (living)
- Example: Escribir (to write) → Escribiendo (writing)
- Example: Abrir (to open) → Abriendo (opening)
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: Vivir) | Past Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | viviendo | estaba viviendo |
| Tú | estabas | viviendo | estabas viviendo |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estaba | viviendo | estaba viviendo |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | estábamos | viviendo | estábamos viviendo |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estaban | viviendo | estaban viviendo |
Examples:
- “Yo estaba durmiendo cuando llamaste.” (I was sleeping when you called.)
- “Ella estaba escribiendo una carta.” (She was writing a letter.)
- “Ellos estaban saliendo de la casa.” (They were leaving the house.)
Synonyms
- English: Regular -IR Past Continuous, Imperfect Progressive, Continuing Past, Ongoing Past Verbs
- Spanish: Verbos Regulares en -IR en Pretérito Imperfecto Progresivo