qué estaba haciendo

what was he doing

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

phrase

1. (in questions; third person singular)

a. what was he doing (masculine)

Vi a mi papá con un hacha. - ¿Qué estaba haciendo con el hacha?

I saw my dad with an ax. - What was he doing with the ax?

b. what was she doing (feminine)

Laura vivía en Alaska por aquel entonces. - ¿Qué estaba haciendo en Alaska?

Laura was living in Alaska at the time. - What was she doing in Alaska?

c. what was ... doing

¿Qué estaba haciendo Patrick tan tarde en la oficina?

What was Patrick doing in the office so late?

2. (in statements; third person singular)

a. what he was doing (masculine)

Pedro había abierto el cofre del carro y tenía un embudo en la mano, pero no tengo ni idea de qué estaba haciendo con el embudo.

Pedro had opened the car hood and had a funnel in his hand, but I have no idea what he was doing with the funnel.

b. what she was doing (feminine)

El recepcionista del hotel le preguntó a Hannah qué estaba haciendo en Coimbra.

The hotel receptionist asked Hannah what she was doing in Coimbra.

c. what ... was doing

Me pregunto qué estaba haciendo un tipo elegante como Julio en un bar de mala muerte como aquel.

I wonder what an elegant guy like Julio was doing in a dive like that.

3.

(formal)

(in questions; second person singular)

a. what were you doing

¿Qué estaba haciendo usted a la hora de la muerte de su vecina, Sr. Vásquez?

What were you doing at the time of your neighbor's death, Mr. Vasquez?

4.

(formal)

(in statements; second person singular)

a. what you were doing

Todos nos preguntamos qué estaba haciendo para romperse la cadera de este modo, Sra. Cruz.

We all wonder what you were doing to break your hip like that, Mrs. Cruz.