Quote Originally Posted by G2Ident89 View Post
Present: I read a book
and
Present Progressive: I am reading a book
are both
я читаю книгу
Yes, if it is iterative or progressive should be understood from context.

in Russian, but how would you translate something like the past progressive, as in 'They were going to go shopping'
Они собирались пойти по магазинам. ('They were going to start shopping')
or
Они собирались походить по магазинам. ('They were going to spend some time for shopping')

In Russian verbs of motion can be either iterative or progressive. That is we have separate verbs for iterative motion (like "ходить") and progressive one (like "идти").

or the past perfect progressive as in, 'They had been shopping for a long time'?
Они долго ходили по магазинам.

Actually, I don't understand why perfect is needed here. It is past and it means that action is over anyway. Why don't you say just "They shopped for a long time?"


Also, if you have 'у меня книга' for 'I have a book' how do you express possession in the future tense, as in, 'I will have a book'?
У меня будет книга.
"I have a book." = "У меня [есть] книга." where "есть" can be skipped.
Literally: "A book is at me."