An interruption in the past progressive

The idea

Use imperfect estar plus a gerund for the ongoing action and the preterite for the completed event, often linked by cuando or mientras.

Examples

• Estaba leyendo en el tren cuando sonó mi teléfono.I was reading on the train when my phone rang.
• Ana estaba preparando la cena cuando se apagó la luz.Ana was making dinner when the light went out.
• Estábamos caminando por el parque cuando empezó a llover.We were walking through the park when it began to rain.
• Mis vecinos estaban pintando la puerta cuando llegó el paquete.My neighbors were painting the door when the package arrived.
• Mientras yo estaba estudiando, mi hermano abrió la ventana.While I was studying, my brother opened the window.
• ¿Estabas durmiendo cuando llamaron a la puerta?Were you sleeping when someone knocked on the door?

Watch out

Do not put both verbs in the preterite if you want to emphasize that the first action was already under way. The interruption need not end it.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the form that fits. Marta ___ un correo cuando llegó su jefa. (estaba escribiendo / escribió)

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   estaba escribiendo

   Estaba escribiendo places the email in progress when the boss arrived.

2. Choose the form that fits. Estábamos cenando cuando el perro ___. (ladró / ladraba)

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   ladró

   Ladró presents the bark as the completed event during dinner.

3. Choose the form that fits. Mientras ustedes ___, empezó la película. (estaban hablando / hablaron)

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   estaban hablando

   Estaban hablando describes the conversation already under way when the film started.

Use it today

Describe what you were doing when something unexpected happened.