Sentence with "estar" in the past progressive??

Question

Any ideas for two sentences using ESTAR in the past progressive?

Answer 1

An example of past progressive could be: "Ayer estuve ordenando mi cuarto toda la tarde" , "Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon tidying my room".

There should be an interruption if using the preterite, yes? Why isn't it better to say "Ayer estaba ordenando"? in this example? - Jack-OBrien, Sep 22, 2010

If the action wasn't interrupted as in my example, then preterite prog. is the right tense. If you were to talk about an interruption, then you'd use imperfect prog: "ayer estaba ordenando mi cuarto cuando sonó el teléfono". - bill1111, Sep 22, 2010

Answer 2

Another example of past progressive could include the imperfect tense instead of the preterite tenses illustrated by my two friends here

For example: Estaba leyendo mi libro favorito cuando mi amigo entró la biblioteca.

= I was reading my favourite book when my friend entered the library.

¡ Estabamos comiendo la cena en casa cuando de repente oímos un fuerte ruido afuera !

= We were eating dinner at home when suddenly we heard a loud noise outside!

Estaban esperando por el próximo tren

= They were waiting for the next train

This is just what I was thinking too! - --Mariana--, Sep 22, 2010

THanks Marianne Great minds think alike lol :) - FELIZ77, Sep 22, 2010

Just one thing, "ruido" is a masculine word, so it's "un fuerte ruido". - bill1111, Sep 22, 2010

Thank You Bill I was looking in my Oxford Spanish Dictionary but couldn't find confirmation of whetehr it was masc or fem :) - FELIZ77, Sep 22, 2010

Answer 3

Billstpor wrote:

That sentence doesn't really work like that. You would have to say "estaba siendo >gracioso, pero nadie se rió". Past preterite is used when you want to stress that the >first action was completed, so in this case you'd have to use imperfect progressive. - >Billstpor 1 hr ago flag Also, to say that you are being funny you say things like "estar gracioso" or "ser >gracioso", but not "estar buen comediante" - Billstpor 1 hr ago flag

A comedian was talking about an experience in a night club that he had and I quoted him. Even the 'natives' don't agree.....

Answer 4

Preterit past progressive: Estuve estando un buen comediante, pero nadie se rió.

That's half, can you think of another?

That sentence doesn't really work like that. You would have to say "estaba siendo gracioso, pero nadie se rió". Past preterite is used when you want to stress that the first action was completed, so in this case you'd have to use imperfect progressive. - bill1111, Sep 22, 2010

Also, to say that you are being funny you say things like "estar gracioso" or "ser gracioso", but not "estar buen comediante" - bill1111, Sep 22, 2010