estaba or estuve

Sherri ..C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

estaba or estuve

I'm having trouble understanding this answer in a study plan test.  Could you please explain.

Ella estaba lavándose el pelo cuando él llegó.
She was washing her hair when he arrived.

When it is combined with another action that interrupts the ongoing action at that time. The interrupting action is generally in the simple past (see the last example where the ongoing action "She was washing her hair" was interrupted by another sudden action "he arrived”.

 Te ________ hasta que me aburrí y me fui.  
I was waiting for you until I got bored and left.

era esperando
estaba esperando-----my answer
estuve esperando------correct Kwiziq answer
fui esperando

 To me, it seems that the waiting was interrupted by "got bored and left."


Asked 4 years ago
InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Sherri,

Please scroll down and you will find the answer given to Nelson who asked the same question some time ago. We added an extra note to the lesson to specify this case. 

Saludos,

Inma

Sherri ..C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you.

estaba or estuve

I'm having trouble understanding this answer in a study plan test.  Could you please explain.

Ella estaba lavándose el pelo cuando él llegó.
She was washing her hair when he arrived.

When it is combined with another action that interrupts the ongoing action at that time. The interrupting action is generally in the simple past (see the last example where the ongoing action "She was washing her hair" was interrupted by another sudden action "he arrived”.

 Te ________ hasta que me aburrí y me fui.  
I was waiting for you until I got bored and left.

era esperando
estaba esperando-----my answer
estuve esperando------correct Kwiziq answer
fui esperando

 To me, it seems that the waiting was interrupted by "got bored and left."


Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
I'll be right with you...