estava + Gerund
Pretérito Contínuo
The Pretérito Contínuo (estava + gerúndio) is the 'past progressive' tense. It focuses on the duration of a past action (e.g., 'I was eating') rather than its completion.
How It Works
The Pretérito Contínuo is essential for storytelling and providing context in the past.
1. Function:
Its primary role is backgrounding. It describes what was happening when a sudden, shorter action interrupted it. For example: 'I was sleeping (background) when the phone rang (interruption).'
2. Formation:
- Auxiliary: Use the Pretérito Imperfeito of estar (estava, estávamos, etc.).
- Main Verb: Use the gerund form (falar → falando, comer → comendo).
3. Regional Differences:
In Brazilian Portuguese (BP), this is the most common form. In European Portuguese (EP), speakers usually prefer the construction estava a + infinitivo (e.g., estava a comer), though the gerund form is still used in literature and certain southern regions.
4. Important Distinction:
Do not use this for past habits. If you want to say 'I used to play soccer every day,' use the simple Pretérito Imperfeito (Eu jogava) instead of the progressive.
Examples (4)
- Eu estava tomando banho quando você ligou.
I was taking a shower when you called.
Word by Word: I was taking bath when you called.
This shows the classic use of the past progressive to set the background for a sudden action (ligou).
- O que você estava fazendo ontem às oito horas?
What were you doing yesterday at eight o'clock?
Word by Word: The what you were doing yesterday at eight hours?
Used here to ask about a specific, continuous moment in the past.
- Nós estávamos esperando o ônibus há muito tempo.
We had been waiting for the bus for a long time.
Word by Word: We were waiting the bus there-is much time.
Emphasizes the duration of the action in the past.
- Eles estavam lendo o relatório durante a reunião.
They were reading the report during the meeting.
Word by Word: They were reading the report during the meeting.
Describes an action that occupied a specific period of time (the meeting).
Common Mistakes
Using the progressive for past habits (used to).
Eu estava jogando futebol todo sábado quando era criança.Eu jogava futebol todo sábado quando era criança.The progressive 'estava jogando' implies a specific ongoing moment. For repeated habits in the past, use the simple Imperfeito.
Using the gerund as a noun (English 'ing' influence).
Estudando é muito importante.Estudar é muito importante.In Portuguese, the infinitive (Estudar) is used as the verbal noun, not the gerund (Estudando).
Related Patterns
- estar + GerundPresent Progressive
This is the present tense version (Present Progressive) of the same construction.
Level 2 - -ando/-endo/-indoGerúndio Formation
Explains how to form the gerund part of the 'estava + gerúndio' pattern.
Level 2 - estar a + InfinitiveEstar a + Infinitive (European Progressive)
The European Portuguese equivalent for expressing progressive actions.
Level 2 - Imperfeito for Background
The simple imperfect is often used alongside the progressive to describe past scenes.
Level 2 - quando + PreteriteQuando (Interruption)
The Pretérito Perfeito is the tense that usually 'interrupts' the ongoing action of the Pretérito Contínuo.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice estava + Gerund in Bubblegum
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