Imperfect Progressive
The Spanish imperfect progressive is formed with the imperfect of estar + gerund of the action verb.
Estaba siendo - I was being - Not used Estaba estando - I was being - Not used Estaba yendo - I was going Estaba teniendo - I was having - Not used Estaba queriendo - I was wanting Estaba comiendo - I was eating Estaba pudiendo - I was being able - Not used Estaba dejando - I was leaving Estaba preguntando - I was asking Estaba creyendo - I was believing Estaba rompiendo - I was breaking Estaba trayendo - I was bringing Estaba comprando - I was buying Estaba cancelando - I was cancelling
The Spanish imperfect progressive is very similar to English (was + -ing). In both languages, the imperfect progressive expresses an action that was in progress in the past when it was interrupted by another event.
Examples: Estaba estudiando cuando llamaste - I was studying when you called.
Lo vi cuando estábamos caminando - I saw him when we were walking.
¿Estabas leyendo ahora mismo? - Were you reading just now?
Él estaba trabajando a las siete - He was working at seven o’clock The imperfect progressive is similar in usage to the imperfect, but with an emphasis on the fact that the action was in progress at the moment it was interrupted.