Spanish grammar
Estábamos + -ando / -iendo (nosotros)
Say what you were doing when someone interrupted.
From the scene Estábamos esperando (We were waiting)
In short
For we were doing, use estábamos + gerund. The interrupting action goes in the preterite.
- we were waiting estábamos esperando
- we were keeping watch estábamos vigilando
- we were eating estábamos comiendo
- what were you doing? ¿qué estabas haciendo?
- I was working estaba trabajando
Your turn
Which one goes with we were keeping watch?
Options: estábamos vigilando · estábamos esperando · estábamos comiendo
Show answer
we were keeping watch → estábamos vigilando
How it works
For "we were doing something" use estábamos + gerund: estábamos esperando (we were waiting).
Good to know
The action that interrupts it goes in the preterite: …y llegaste tú.
we were waiting estábamos esperando
Nuria
¿Javi? ¡Estábamos esperando al ladrón y llegaste tú!
Javi? We were waiting for the thief and you turned up!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Javi? ¡(blank) al ladrón y llegaste tú!
Options: Estábamos vigilando · Estábamos comiendo · Estábamos esperando
Show answer
Nuria
¿Javi? ¡Estábamos esperando al ladrón y llegaste tú!
Javi? We were waiting for the thief and you turned up!
we were keeping watch estábamos vigilando
Elena
Sí. Estábamos vigilando desde las doce.
Yes. We had been keeping watch since twelve.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sí. (blank) desde las doce.
Options: Estábamos esperando · Estábamos comiendo · Estábamos vigilando
Show answer
Elena
Sí. Estábamos vigilando desde las doce.
Yes. We had been keeping watch since twelve.
we were eating estábamos comiendo
Nuria
Y estábamos comiendo churros. ¿Quieres uno?
And we were eating churros. Do you want one?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank) churros. ¿Quieres uno?
Options: estábamos vigilando · estábamos comiendo · estábamos esperando
Show answer
Nuria
Y estábamos comiendo churros. ¿Quieres uno?
And we were eating churros. Do you want one?
what were you doing? ¿qué estabas haciendo?
Elena
Y tú, ¿qué estabas haciendo hasta ahora?
And you, what were you doing until now?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y tú, ¿(blank) hasta ahora?
Options: qué estabas haciendo · estábamos esperando · estábamos vigilando
Show answer
Elena
Y tú, ¿qué estabas haciendo hasta ahora?
And you, what were you doing until now?
I was working estaba trabajando
Javi
Estaba trabajando en la panadería.
I was working at the bakery.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) en la panadería.
Options: Estábamos vigilando · Estaba trabajando · Estábamos esperando
Show answer
Javi
Estaba trabajando en la panadería.
I was working at the bakery.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| we were waiting | estábamos esperando |
|---|---|
| we were keeping watch | estábamos vigilando |
| we were eating | estábamos comiendo |
| what were you doing? | ¿qué estabas haciendo? |
| I was working | estaba trabajando |
More lines from the story
- Elena¡Qué sospechoso! Vuelves a mi lista.How suspicious! You're back on my list.