seguía
/seh-GEE-ah/
was following
When someone seguía a person or thing, it means they "was following" them.
seguía(verb)
was following
?Physical movement or tracking
,used to follow
?Habitual past action
was tracking
?Following a path or trail
📝 In Action
El perro seguía a su dueño por toda la casa.
A1The dog was following his owner all over the house.
De niño, yo seguía las noticias deportivas en la radio.
A2As a child, I used to follow the sports news on the radio.
¿Quién seguía ese coche tan rápido?
A2Who was following that car so fast?
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (Ongoing Past)
The form 'seguía' is used to describe actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past, or to set the scene for a story. It describes how things were.
Used for Habitual Actions
If you are talking about something you used to do regularly, the imperfect is the correct tense: 'Siempre seguía el mismo camino' (I always followed the same path).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'siguió' (he followed, completed once) when you mean 'seguía' (he was following, ongoing)."
Correction: Use 'seguía' when the action happened over a period of time. Use 'siguió' only if the action started and finished quickly in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Digital Following
In modern Spanish, 'seguía' (from 'seguir') is used to talk about following someone on social media: 'Yo seguía a esa cuenta de Instagram'.
When someone seguía painting, it means they "were continuing" the action.
seguía(verb)
was continuing
?To keep doing something
,kept on
?Maintaining an action
remained
?To stay in a state
📝 In Action
Aunque estaba cansada, ella seguía estudiando hasta tarde.
B1Even though she was tired, she kept studying late.
Él seguía siendo un misterio para todos nosotros.
B2He continued to be a mystery to all of us.
La lluvia no paraba; seguía cayendo sin descanso.
B1The rain didn't stop; it kept falling relentlessly.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Keep Doing' Structure
When 'seguir' means 'to keep doing something,' it is followed by the '-ing' form of the other verb (the gerundio). Formula: 'Seguía' + verb ending in '-ando' or '-iendo'.
Describing States
You can use 'seguía' with the verb 'ser' (to be) to describe a past state that didn't change: 'La casa seguía vacía' (The house remained empty).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Infinitive
Mistake: "Saying 'seguía estudiar' instead of 'seguía estudiando'."
Correction: Remember that after 'seguir' when it means 'to keep doing,' you must use the gerund (-ing form): 'seguía comiendo' (kept eating).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: seguía
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Ella seguía las instrucciones detalladas'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'seguía' used for 'I followed' or 'He followed'?
'Seguía' can mean either 'I was following' (Yo seguía) or 'He/She/You (formal) was following' (Él/Ella/Usted seguía). You usually know which one by the context or the subject you use.
How do I say 'He followed me' (just once, completed)?
For a single, completed action in the past, you must use the preterite tense: 'Él me siguió'.