estaba + gerundio, pretérito imperfecto

Question

I am really stuck in the uses of "estaba+gerundio" and "pretérito imperfecto". for example what is the difference between

"cuando iba al cine, me encontré con él" and "cuando estaba yendo al cine, me encontré con él"?

Answer 1

There is very little difference in this context, but the continuous form is used to place emphasis on the ongoing action (While I was going to (on my way to), not while I was at , or while I was leaving). " When I was going to the theater (iba)" just paints an overall background and does not place any emphasis on the action of going, leaving, being at, etc. Similar to "I met him while I was at the movie"...it places no emphasis on the going to, arriving, being at, leaving the movie.