Conjugate estar in the imperfect tense in Spanish (El Pretérito Imperfecto)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA

Last updated: 2023-09-06

Estar (to be) is regular in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish.

Learn how to conjugate "estar" in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish

yo	estaba
tú	estabas
él / ella / Ud.	estaba
nosotros / nosotras	estábamos
vosotros / vosotras	estabais
ellos / ellas / Uds.	estaban

Listen to these examples of estar in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish:

Yo estaba en Bilbao cuando pasó.I was in Bilbao when it happened.

¿Dónde estabas tú el otro día?Where were you the other day?

Ella estaba enfadada con su madre.She was cross with her mother.

Nosotras estábamos de vacaciones entonces.We were on holidays then.

¿Estabais vosotros enfermos en el hospital?Were you ill in hospital?

Ellos estaban muy contentos con los resultados.They were very happy with the results.

Ustedes estaban en otro lugar.You were somewhere else.

Don't get confused with the verb ser, which also translates as to be.

See Conjugate ser in the imperfect tense in Spanish (El Imperfecto).

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