The verb estar changes its meaning depending on whether it is used in El Pretérito Imperfecto or in El Pretérito Indefinido.
Read and listen to these examples with verb estar in El Pretérito Imperfecto:
Martina estaba deprimida.
Martina was depressed.
(We are not sure or it doesn't matter how Martina is feeling now.)
Los cuadros estaban en el museo.
The paintings were in the museum.
(We are describing a situation where the timeframe is not relevant.)
Now, read and listen to these examples with verb estar in El Pretérito Indefinido:
Martina estuvo deprimida.
Martina was depressed.
(We know Martina is no longer depressed; she is feeling better now.)
Los cuadros estuvieron en el museo.
The paintings were in the museum. (We are describing a situation where the condition is either no longer true or not relevant.)
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Los cuadros estuvieron en el museo.
The paintings were in the museum. (We are describing a situation where the condition is either no longer true or not relevant.)
Los cuadros estaban en el museo.
The paintings were in the museum.
(We are describing a situation where the timeframe is not relevant.)
Martina estuvo deprimida.
Martina was depressed.
(We know Martina is no longer depressed; she is feeling better now.)
Martina estaba deprimida.
Martina was depressed.
(We are not sure or it doesn't matter how Martina is feeling now.)
