This English form has many functions, and Russian renders these functions in various ways.
(a) English progressive tenses: an imperfective verb, e.g.
| I am going home. | Я иду домой. |
| She was writing a letter. | Oнa писaлa письмо. |
| They’ll be watching TV tonight. | Oни будут смотрeть тeлeвизор сeгодня вeчeром
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(b) attendant action: a separate clause, which might contain a gerund, e.g.
He broke his leg while playing football.
| Покa он игрaл/игрaя в футбол, он сломaл сeбe ногу.
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(c) action prior to that denoted by the main verb: a subordinate clause, which may contain a perfective gerund, e.g.
