What is the Past Progressive?
The past progressive, also known as past continuous in English, is a verb tense that is used to describe actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.
It is commonly used to indicate an action that was in progress at a particular moment or over a duration in the past, often when another action occurred, as in the following examples:
- I was studying when you called me.
- She was sleeping at 9.
You will be pleasantly surprised to find out that, in Italian, the structure is the same.
Past Progressive in Italian
How to Form the Italian Past Progressive?
The imperfect of the Italian verb Stare is conjugated as follows:
| io | stavo |
| tu | stavi |
| lui/lei | stava |
| noi | stavamo |
| voi | stavate |
| loro | stavano |
And the present gerund is quite easy, I must say. Verbs ending in -are form the gerund by adding the suffix -ando to the root of the verb while verbs ending in -ere/-ire form the gerund by adding the suffix -endo to the root of the verb form:
- giocare (to play) – giocando
- lavorare (to work) – lavorando
- leggere (to read) – leggendo
- ridere (to laugh) – ridendo
- venire (to go) – venendo
- dormire (to sleep) – dormendo
Let me give you some examples:
Stavo cercando le chiavi.
I was looking for my keys.
(Lui) Stava preparando colazione.
He was having breakfast.
(Loro) Stavano riparando la bicicletta.
They were fixing the bike.
Of course, there are some irregular verbs. Paradoxically, the verbs essere and avere follow a regular pattern, while most of the verbs that end in -rre and the ones that I listed below have a specific form:
- Bere (to drink): bevendo
- Dire (to say): dicendo
- Fare (to do): facendo
- Comporre (to compose): componendo
- Tradurre (to translate): traducendo
- Introdurre (to introduce): introducendo
Cosa stavi dicendo?
What were you saying?
Marco stava bevendo la birra.
Marco was drinking beer.
As you can see, their irregularity is given by the fact that their root changes when being conjugated in the present gerund. Specifically, they add a syllable in the conjugation. This has some historical reasons which I love explaining, so get ready for some pills of linguistics.
When Italian evolved from Latin, it changed some words, of course. However, it kept some original Latin roots in some specific conjugation, like gerundio presente and imperfetto. In fact, dire in Latin was dicere, fare was facere, tradurre was traducere, introdurre was introducere.
Did you notice anything? They all have that extra syllable that we still use now.
If you are interested in the history of the Italian language, I invite you to read more and dive into this world of linguistic evolution.
Another thing you must remember when you conjugate reflexive verbs is that you must use the corresponding reflexive pronoun, which, as all pronouns, precedes the verb.
When you deal with compound verbs like the past progressive – that is, verbs that are composed of an auxiliary verb and either present gerund or past participle – pronouns precede the auxiliary verb.
Io mi stavo facendo la doccia.
I was taking a shower.
Maria ed io ci stavamo innamorando.
Maria and I were falling in love.
When to use the Past Progressive in Italian?
The Italian past progressive is used similarly to English, but with slightly different nuances. It is generally used to express:
- Ongoing actions in the past: to emphasize that an action was occurring at an exact moment in the past, generally interrupted by another action.
Stavo comprando un paio di scarpe quando mi hai chiamato.
I was buying a pair of shoes when you called me.
- Two simultaneous actions: when two actions were happening at the same time.
Mentre stavo studiando, mio fratello stava guardando la televisione.
While I was studying, my brother was watching TV.
- Describe settings: to set a scene in narrative texts, giving a backdrop of ongoing actions or atmospheres.
Era una notte tranquilla, e gli uccelli stavano cantando.
It was a quiet night, and the birds were singing
Notice that when it is used to describe an ongoing activity in the past, the Italian past progressive is very similar to the Italian Imperfetto. Therefore you can also say:
Mentre studiavo, mio fratello guardava la televisione.
While I was studying, my brother was watching TV.
Or you can even combine the two tenses:
Mentre studiavo, mio fratello stava guardando la televisione.
Mentre stavo studiando, mio fratello guardava la televisione.
While I was studying, my brother was watching TV.
The meaning does not really change.
Imperfetto vs Past Progressive
Although they can overlap in some situations, distinguishing between the Italian imperfect and the Italian past progressive is essential.
The imperfetto is a simple past tense that describes past actions or states of being that were ongoing, habitual, or incomplete in the past. The past progressive, instead, emphasizes the continuity or progression of an action during a past moment.
Here I created a table that compares their similar yet different applications, with corresponding examples and translations:
| Imperfect Tense | Past Progressive |
|---|---|
| Habitual Actions | Ongoing Actions at a Specific Past Moment |
|
Da bambino, andavo sempre al parco. As a child, I always went to the park. |
Stavo andando al parco quando mi hai chiamato. I was going to the park when you called me. |
| Actions with no Defined end or Beginning | Simultaneous Actions |
|
Mentre parlavo, lui ascoltava attentamente. While I was speaking, he was listening carefully. |
Stavo parlando mentre lui ascoltava attentamente. I was speaking while he was listening carefully. |
| Describing Background Situations | Describing Scenery in Narratives |
|
Era un giorno piovoso. It was a rainy day. |
Stavano camminando sotto la pioggia. They were walking in the rain. |
| Scheduled Future Events | Imminent Future Actions |
|
Il treno parte alle otto. The train leaves at eight. |
Stiamo partendo. We are about to leave. |
Cosa Stavi Aspettando?
What where you waiting for?
Understanding the uses of the Italian past progressive is crucial for anyone looking to master the Italian language. Learning verb tenses when studying a new language is essential, because they allow you to move in time to express your thoughts clearly.
Its comparison with the imperfect tense is also very important: while the imperfetto provides a general description of past habits or ongoing states without focusing on their progression, the past progressive specifically emphasizes the ongoing nature of an action during a specific time.
Not only does this distinction helps in achieving fluency, but it also enriches communication. Whether you are conversing casually with friends or engaging in more formal conversations, recognizing when to use each tense can significantly enhance your understanding and interaction in Italian.
