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Neville Offline OP
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When I first started learning Spanish using the Michel Thomas course it stuck with me that whenever you wanting to say in English;
I was .....
We were.....

You were to use the copret�rito ie.
-----�a + person
or
----aba + person

Now I am confused give that you can use estar + participle
in the past tense i.e


Also note that estar here is conjugated using the copreterit form too.

estaba haciendo mis tareas
estaba viendo la television


So the question is how do I know when I should use the past progressive (if at all) as it almost seems as though the copreterite tense renders it obsolete.

Thanxs In advance for any comments

Sal2

Nev

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K
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O.k...here's a quick version..I would have to go and get my notes to explain this one.

You use it when you're talking about what your were doing WHEN SOMETHING ELSE occured and interrupted that action you were doing. (similar to was + ing in English).

Example:
Yo estaba viendo la tele cuando mi papa llego.
Raul estaba haciendo su tarea cuando se fue la luz.

There was an action in progress when it was interrupted.

I'm not sure if that answers your questions...or helps any.

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Neville Offline OP
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kz,

Thanks for your response but I was taught that in the case of an event in the past(that you were doing) being interrupted you would use the copreterite and preterite.

Hence
Example:
Yo estaba viendo la tele cuando mi papa llego.
would be
Yo ve�a tele cuando mi papa lleg�
and
Raul estaba haciendo su tarea cuando se fue la luz.
would be
Raul hac�a su tarea cuando se fue la luz.

I think I need further clarification on this please.

Sal2

Nev

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�Hola, Nev!

Well, from my point of view, both examples (both tenses) have practically the same meaning in the sentences you gave.

�Yo estaba viendo la tele cuando mi pap� lleg� = �Yo ve�a la tele cuando mi pap� lleg�

In fact, �estaba� and �ve�a� are both �copret�ritos�. The difference is that the first one is used in a compound (continuous) tense, and the second one, as a simple verb, but I repeat it, both sentences have practically the same meaning.

Hope this helps, and again, sorry for the delay!!

�Hasta pronto!


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