estaba haciendo

he was doing

he was making

estaba haciendo(ehs-tah-bah ah-syehn-doh)

phrase

1. (he, she, or it was carrying out; third person singular)

a. he was doing

Cuando llamé a Carlos, estaba haciendo la tarea de matemáticas.

When I called Carlos, he was doing his math homework.

b. she was doing

No sé qué estaba haciendo, pero parecía muy concentrada.

I don't know what she was doing, but she seemed to be very focused.

c. it was doing

¿El gobierno no hizo nada por ellos? - Sí, estaba haciendo lo posible por extraditarlos.

And didn't the government do anything for them? - Yes, it was doing all it could to extradite them.

d. was doing

En aquel entonces, María estaba haciendo la carrera de historia.

Maria was doing a history degree back then.

2.

(formal)

(you were carrying out; second person singular)

a. you were doing

Cuando estaba haciendo la tareas de la casa, ¿no soñaba a veces con una vida totalmente distinta?

When you were doing the housework, didn't you sometimes dream of a totally different life?

3. (I was carrying out; first person singular)

a. I was doing

Cuando era joven, siempre estaba haciendo algo, pero ahora me cuesta moverme.

When I was young, I was always doing something, but I find it difficult to move now.

4. (he, she, or it was producing; third person singular)

a. he was making

Luis dijo que estaba haciendo una casa de juguete para sus hijas.

Luis said he was making a dollhouse for his daughters.

b. she was making

Cuando llegamos, estaba haciendo la cena.

When we arrived, she was making dinner.

c. it was making

Apagué el aire acondicionado porque estaba haciendo mucho ruido.

I turned off the air-conditioning because it was making a lot of noise.

d. was making

Juan estaba haciendo un pastel y se le quemó.

Juan was making a cake and he burned it.

5.

(formal)

(you were producing; second person singular)

a. you were making

¿Las natillas que estaba haciendo son para la comida o para la cena?

Is the custard you were making for lunch or for dinner?

6. (I was producing; first person singular)

a. I was making

¿Qué hacías en la cocina? - Estaba haciendo un bizcocho porque sé que les gusta.

What were you making in the kitchen? - I was making a sponge cake because I know you like it.