Pasado progresivo o Pasado Continuo

El Past Progressive (pasado progresivo) es una forma del verbo que muestra que la acción estaba en
progreso en un momento dado o en un período dado en el pasado.

Por ejemplo:

 Yesterday at 7 o'clock Judi was washing the dishes.

(Ayer a las 7 horas Judi estaba lavando los platos.)

 Judi was washing the dishes the entire evening.

(Judi estaba lavando los platos toda la tarde.)

El Past Progressive (Pasado Progresivo) se usa frecuentemente junto con el Simple Past (pasado simple).

Por ejemplo:

 While Judi was washing the dishes the phone rang.

(Mientras Judi estaba lavando los platos, sonó el teléfono.)

Acciones que estaban en progreso en un momento dado o un período dado en el

pasado
(Los verbos están en negrita)

He was flying all day.

(Estaba volando todo el día.)

He was sitting outside for too long.

(Estaba sentado afuera durante mucho tiempo.)

While they were sleeping, he got into trouble.

(Mientras estaban durmiendo, él se metió en problemas.)

Acciones molestas que se repetían en el pasado

He was always resting.

(Siempre estaba descansando.)

She was always leaving me with all the paperwork.

(Siempre me dejaba todos los formularios.)

He was always sleeping on duty.

(Siempre se estaba durmiendo mientras trabajaba.)
ESTRUCTURAS GRAMATICALES DE ORACIONES CON PASADO PROGRESIVO:

Oraciones afirmativas

¿Quíen? Forma del verbo Ejemplos

I was studying the whole afternoon.
I was + verbo + ing
(Yo estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
He was studying the whole afternoon.
(Él estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)

She was studying the whole afternoon.

He/She/It was + verbo + ing
(Ella estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)

It was studying the whole afternoon.

(Estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
You were studying the whole afternoon.
You were + verbo + ing
(Estabas estudiando toda la tarde.)
We were studying the whole afternoon.
We were + verbo + ing
(Estábamos estudiando toda la tarde.)
They were studying the whole afternoon.
They were + verbo + ing
(Estaban estudiando toda la tarde.)

Oraciones negativas

¿Quíen? Forma del verbo Ejemplos

was + not +verbo + ing I was not studying the whole afternoon.
I I wasn't studying the whole afternoon.
wasn't +verbo + ing (Yo no estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
He was not studying the whole afternoon.
He wasn't studying the whole afternoon.
(Él no estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
was + not +verbo + ing She was not studying the whole afternoon.
He/She/It She wasn't studying the whole afternoon.
wasn't +verbo + ing (Ella no estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
It was not studying the whole afternoon.
It wasn't studying the whole afternoon.
(No estaba estudiando toda la tarde.)
were + not +verbo + ing You were not studying the whole afternoon.
You You weren't studying the whole afternoon.
weren't +verbo + ing (No estabas estudiando toda la tarde.)
were + not +verbo + ing We were not studying the whole afternoon.
We We weren't studying the whole afternoon.
weren't +verbo + ing (No estábamos estudiando toda la tarde.)
They were not studying the whole
were + not +verbo + ing
afternoon.
They
They weren't studying the whole afternoon.
weren't +verbo + ing
(No estaban estudiando toda la tarde.)
Preguntas

¿Quíen? Forma del verbo Ejemplos

Was I studying the whole afternoon?
Was I verbo + ing
(¿Yo estaba estudiando toda la tarde?)
Was he studying the whole afternoon?
(Él estaba estudiando toda la tarde?)

Was she studying the whole afternoon?

Was he/she/it verbo + ing
(Ella estaba estudiando toda la tarde?)

Was it studying the whole afternoon?

(Estaba estudiando toda la tarde?)
Were you studying the whole afternoon?
Were You verbo + ing
(¿Estabas estudiando toda la tarde?)
Were we studying the whole afternoon?
Were We verbo + ing
(¿Estábamos estudiando toda la tarde?)
Were they studying the whole afternoon?
Were they verbo + ing
(¿Estaban estudiando toda la tarde?)

Existen usos básicos del pasado progresivo:

1. Hablar de una acción en progreso en un tiempo definido en el pasado:

I was watching the game on TV yesterday at 2 pm. (Estaba viendo el partido en televisión ayer a las 2 pm).
What were they doing at 11 last night? (¿Qué estaban haciendo ellos a las 11 anoche?)
Los ejemplos anteriores nos muestran un momento específico.

2. Hablar de dos o más acciones que estaban en progreso al mismo en el pasado:

Jerry was eating cheese while Tom was drinking milk. (Jerry estaba comiendo queso mientras Tom estaba tomando
leche).

Tip: para este uso específico debemos utilizar la palabra “while” que significa “mientras”; por favor, en este contexto no
utilizar “when” que significa “cuando”.

3. Utilizamos este tiempo verbal para darle contexto a una historia, cuento o anécdota:

It was a nice day; the sun was shining, the birds were flying and the flowers were blooming…
Era un buen día, el sol estaba brillando, los pájaros estaban cantando y las flores estaban floreciendo…

4. Describir lo que estaba pasando al momento de que otra acción lo interrumpió:

I was reading my book when the power went out. (Estaba leyendo mi libro cuando se cortó la luz).
My cell phone rang while I was crossing the street. (Mi teléfono celular sonó mientras estaba cruzando la calle).