When should I use the past progressive rather than the imperfect tense
Use of past progressive
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Hola Valerie
The imperfect progressive and the Imperfect have a similar use. They can both be used to express that "something was happening" in the past, in a descriptive way. For example:
"Los chicos jugaban en el parque" or "Los chicos estaban jugando en el parque"
Both options refer an ongoing action in the past. The progressive tense gives a bit more sense of an action in progress.
However, we use the Imperfect to express what someone "used to do" in the past, for example:
"Cuando era pequeña, jugaba mucho al escondite." (When I was little, I used to play hide and seek a lot.)
Here, the past progressive would NOT be an alternative.
I hope this helps.
Saludos cordiales
Inma
Use of past progressive
When should I use the past progressive rather than the imperfect tense
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