How to Say "was calling" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “was calling” is “llamaba” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Yo llamaba a mi abuela todos los domingos.
I used to call my grandmother every Sunday.
Ella llamaba a la policía cuando escuchó el ruido.
She was calling the police when she heard the noise.
Usted llamaba a la puerta, pero nadie abrió.
You (formal) were knocking on the door, but no one opened.
The Imperfect Tense (Imperfecto)
'Llamaba' is the past tense used to describe actions that were ongoing, habitual, or repeated in the past, without a specific beginning or end.
Yo and Él/Ella/Usted Match
In the imperfect tense, the 'yo' (I) form and the 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal) form are exactly the same: 'llamaba'.
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: “Usando 'llamó' (preterite) para hablar de un hábito.”
Correction: Use 'llamaba' (imperfect) when describing a habit or routine: 'Yo llamaba cada semana.' ('I called every week.'). Use 'llamó' for a single, completed action: 'Ayer me llamó.' ('Yesterday, he called me.')
Related Translations
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