Pasado continuo en inglés
Aprende el pasado continuo en inglés (was / were + -ing): cuándo se usa, cómo combinarlo con el pasado simple usando when y while, y errores comunes.
En resumen
- Se forma con was / were + verbo-ing: I was working.
- Describe una acción en progreso en un momento del pasado.
- Combinado con el pasado simple: I was cooking when you called.
Cómo se forma#
Sujeto
I / he / she / it
Auxiliar
was
Verbo + ing
working
Sujeto
you / we / they
Auxiliar
were
Verbo + ing
working
I was reading at 10 p.m.
A las 10 p. m. estaba leyendo.
They weren't listening.
No estaban escuchando.
What were you doing?
¿Qué estabas haciendo?
Cuándo se usa#
- Acción en progreso en un momento del pasado: At 8 a.m. I was driving to work.
- Acción interrumpida por otra: I was taking a shower when the power went out.
- Dos acciones a la vez: While I was cooking, she was setting the table.
- Para describir el escenario de una historia: It was raining and people were running.
When y while#
| Conector | Va con | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| when | la acción corta (pasado simple) | I was working when she arrived. |
| while | la acción larga (pasado continuo) | She arrived while I was working. |
Errores comunes#
They was waiting.
They were waiting.
They usa were.
I was knowing the answer.
I knew the answer.
Know es un verbo de estado.
When I was walking, I was seeing an accident.
When I was walking, I saw an accident.
La acción corta va en pasado simple.
Practica
Elige la opción correcta. Te mostramos la explicación al instante.
1.We ___ dinner when the phone rang.
2.She ___ sleeping.
3.___ I was driving, I listened to a podcast.
4.What ___ you doing yesterday at 5?
5.I was walking home when I ___ my boss.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Es el equivalente a «estaba + -ando»?+
Casi siempre. Pero el español usa también el imperfecto (trabajaba) para rutinas pasadas, que en inglés es used to o pasado simple.