Era, Fui, Estuve vs Estaba in Spanish

In Spanish, “era” and “estuve” are both in the past tense, while “estaba” is in the imperfect tense.

“Era” is the past tense of “ser,” which is used to indicate a permanent or long-lasting characteristic or state. For example, “yo era alto” means “I was tall” (with the implication that I was tall for a long period of time).

“Estuve” is the past tense of “estar,” which is used to indicate a temporary or shorter-term state or location. For example, “yo estuve en la fiesta” means “I was at the party” (with the implication that I was only there for a period of time).

“Estaba” is the imperfect tense of “estar,” which is used to describe ongoing or continuous actions or states in the past. For example, “yo estaba leyendo un libro” means “I was reading a book” (with the implication that the action was ongoing at a particular point in the past).

In summary, “era” and “estuve” refer to specific past events or states, while “estaba” describes ongoing or continuous past actions or states.

 

Fue vs Era vs Estaba vs Estuve

What is the difference between Era and Fui?

When to use ERA?

Note: Era in Spanish is used to describe how things were or how a person was; and is translated as “used to be”.

Yo era – I was *used to be*
Tú eras – You(informal) were *used to be*
Él /Ella era – He/She was *used to be*
Usted era – You(formal) were *used to be*
Nosotros(as) éramos – We were *used to be*
Ellos(as)/Ustedes eran – They/You(plural) were *used to be*

Sentences with the word era

Yo era delgada antes del parto.	–	I was skinny before giving birth.
Él era mi marido.	–	He was my husband.
Creí que era el amor de mi vida.	–	I thought he was the love of my life.
No era feliz a su lado.	–	I was not happy with him.
Era yo quién te quería.	–	I was the one who loved you.
No era necesario que vinieras.	–	You didn’t need to come.
Era el momento de dejarte ir.	–	It was time to let you go.
¿Era necesaria mi presencia?	–	Was my presence necessary?
¿Quién era ella?	–	Who was she?
Olvidé quién era yo realmente.	–	I forgot who I really was.
Realmente no era lo qué esperaba.	–	It really wasn’t what I expected.
Era probable que no supieras de su existencia.	–	You probably didn’t even know she existed.
Fue un momento decisivo y era preciso actuar rápido.	–	It was a decisive moment and it was necessary to act quickly.
Era una chica complicada.	–	She was a complicated girl.
Yo era cariñosa y muy tierna.	–	I was affectionate and very tender.
Difícilmente, era ella quien llamaba.	–	Hardly, she was the one calling.
No era él quien me preocupaba.	–	It wasn’t him I was worried about.
Era una lista muy larga.	–	It was a very long list.
Yo era lo que tú no merecías.	–	I was what you didn’t deserve.
Él no era lo que yo necesitaba.	–	He was not what I needed.
¡Era mi sueño hecho realidad!	–	It was my dream come true!
Era el número 22 en la fila.	–	He was number 22 in line.
En la escuela era la líder.	–	At school she was the leader.
Era mejor vernos lejos.	–	It was better to see us away.
Hace tiempo era necesario un cambio.	–	A change was needed long ago.
Mi presencia era lo que me definía.	–	My presence was what defined me.
Era importante qué estudiáramos más.	–	It was important that we study more.
Esa era la película de mis sueños.	–	That was the movie of my dreams.
Yo era exigente con mi hija.	–	I was demanding with my daughter.
Ella era lo opuesto a mí.	–	She was the opposite of me.

 

When to use FUI?

Note: Fui in Spanish is used to narrate an event that happened in the past and how it happened and is translated as “was” *not anymore*

Yo fui – I *was* *not anymore*
Tú fuiste – You(informal) *were* *not anymore*
Él /Ella fue – He/She *was* *not anymore*
Usted fue – You(formal) *were* *not anymore*
Nosotros(as) fuimos – We *were* *not anymore*
Ellos(as)/Ustedes fueron – They/You(plural) *were* *not anymore*

Sentences with the word fui

Fui a verte ayer.	–	I went to see you yesterday.
No fui yo quien lo hizo.	–	It wasn’t me who did it.
¿A dónde fui?	–	Where I went?
No recuerdo si fui.	–	I don’t remember if I went.
Fui yo quien te lo dijo.	–	I was the one who told you.
Fui a abrir la puerta.	–	I went to open the door.
Ayer fui al parque.	–	Yesterday I went to the park.
Fui con mi hermana a la peluquería.	–	I went with my sister to the hairdresser.
Fui primero a tu trabajo.	–	I went to your work first.
No fui porque se rompió el carro.	–	I didn’t go because the car broke down.
Fui yo quien lo pensó primero.	–	I was the one who thought of it first.
Yo no fui lo qué esperabas.	–	I was not what you expected.
Fui más de lo que merecías.	–	I was more than you deserved.
A pesar de no tener ganas, fui al trabajo.	–	Despite not feeling like it, I went to work.
Fui a cobrar y no estaba la nómina.	–	I went to collect and there was no payroll.
Yo fui delgada.	–	I was skinny.
Fui el culpable de todo.	–	I was to blame for everything.
Siempre fui lo que quise, mientras quise.	–	I was always what I wanted, as long as I wanted.
Fui expuesta a las radiaciones.	–	I was exposed to radiation.
Nunca fui una mujer paciente.	–	I was never a patient woman.
Fui dejando todo para después y mira lo que pasó.	–	I was leaving everything for later and look what happened.
Ayer fui a una tienda en la calle 22.	–	Yesterday I went to a store on 22nd street.
Fui analizando opciones y esta es la mejor.	–	I was analyzing options and this is the best.
Descarté la idea y me fui.	–	I scrapped the idea and left.
Tomando la decisión final, fui a decírtelo.	–	Making the final decision, I went to tell you.
Fui sorprendida por ti, de mala manera.	–	I was surprised by you, in a bad way.
No fui capaz de aceptar la realidad.	–	I was not able to accept reality.
Fui incongruente en varias de las cosas que dije.	–	I was inconsistent in several of the things I said.
Fui muy noble con quien no lo merecía.	–	I was very noble with those who did not deserve it.
Siempre fui el amor de tu vida.	–	I was always the love of your life.
Nosotros fuimos amigos.	–	We were friends.
Ellos fueron mis estudiantes.	–	They were my students.

Tip: Fui has two meanings: to be and to go. Check out how to conjugate fui as to go in Spanish and as to be in Spanish

What is the difference between Estuve and Estaba?

When to use ESTUVE?

Note: Estuve in Spanish is used when the action that happened “in the past and it finished”

Simple Past in Spanish

Yo estuve – I was *in the past and it finished*
Tú estuviste – You(informal) were *in the past and it finished*
Él /Ella estuvo – He/She was *in the past and it finished*
Usted estuvo – You(formal) were *in the past and it finished*
Nosotros(as) estuvimos – We were *in the past and it finished*
Vosotros(as) estuvisteis – You were *in the past and it finished*
Ellos(as)/Ustedes estuvieron – They/You(plural) were *in the past and it finished*

Sentences with the word estuve

Estuve enamorada de ti pero acabó.	–	I was in love with you but it’s over.
No te vi cuando estuve ahí.	–	I didn’t see you when I was there.
Con la Covid-19 estuve muy grave.	–	With Covid-19 I was very serious.
En la cola del pan estuve desde temprano.	–	I was in the bread queue early.
¡Estuve tan enamorada!	–	I was so in love!
Yo estuve tocando teclas hasta que la atiné.	–	I was playing keys until I hit it.
Estuve en tu mente desde que te dejé.	–	I was on your mind since I left you.
Con mi nieto estuve paseando todo el dia.	–	With my grandson I was walking all day.
Estuve tan equivocada de la vida.	–	I was so wrong about life.
Estabas bobeando mientras estuve trabajando.	–	You were fooling around while I was working.
Con mi nieto estuve muy entretenida.	–	With my grandson I was very entertained.
Estuve en el coche todo el santo dia.	–	I was in the car all holy day.
Contando dinero estuve todo el dia.	–	I was counting money all day.
Estuve pensando cómo ser más productiva.	–	I’ve been thinking how to be more productive.
En la olimpiada estuve en el podio de premiación.	–	At the Olympics I was on the award podium.
Estuve internada en un sanatorio.	–	I was admitted to a sanatorium.
Cuando estuve enferma todos me visitaban.	–	When I was sick everyone visited me.
Estuve en el parqué esperando por ti.	–	I was in the park waiting for you.
Perdí mucho cuando estuve comprando bitcoins.	–	I lost a lot when I was buying bitcoins.
Viví un espejismo cuando estuve contigo.	–	I lived a mirage when I was with you.
En el trabajo estuve muy activa.	–	At work I was very active.
En tu cumpleaños estuve genial.	–	On your birthday I was great.
Estuve perdiendo mientras apostaba.	–	I was losing while betting.
Cuando te dieron la casa yo estuve ahí.	–	When they gave you the house I was there.
Estuve practicando para la competencia.	–	I was practicing for the competition.
Mientras cruzabas la calle yo estuve atenta.	–	As you crossed the street I was attentive.
Veía por ti mientras estuve enamorada.	–	I looked out for you while I was in love.
Estuve buscando el significado de tu nombre.	–	I’ve been looking for the meaning of your name.
Cuando ganaste la apuesta yo estuve ahí contigo.	–	When you won the bet I was there with you.
¿Estarás para mí como yo estuve contigo?	–	Will you be for me as I was with you?

When to use ESTABA?

Note: Estaba in Spanish is when:

– the action that started in the past and hasn’t finished
– the finish date is uncertain
– actions that happened simultaneously in the past.
– the action that happened repeatedly in the past

Imperfect in Spanish

Yo estaba – I was
Tú estabas – You(informal) were
Él /Ella estaba – He/She was
Usted estaba -You(formal) were
Nosotros(as) estábamos – We were
Vosotros(as) estabais -You were
Ellos(as)/Ustedes estaban – They/You(plural) were

Sentences with the word estaba

Yo estaba segura de que no pasaría nada.	–	I was sure nothing would happen.
¿Dónde estaba la libreta?	–	Where was the notebook?
Estaba asustada por la oscuridad.	–	She was scared of the dark.
Usted estaba hablando pero yo no la escuchaba.	–	You were talking but I wasn’t listening.
Estaba impaciente por verte.	–	I was impatient to see you.
Era tarde y estaba muy cansada.	–	It was late and she was very tired.
Mientras yo estaba enamorada, tú solo jugabas conmigo.	–	While I was in love, you only played with me.
Estaba hablando con el niño cuando usted llegó.	–	I was talking to the boy when you arrived.
O estaba yo equivocada o la información era errónea.	–	Either I was wrong or the information was wrong.
Las opciones eran pocas para como estaba la situación.	–	The options were few for the situation.
Estaba tan sentida con la vida que no veía sus bondades.	–	I was so heartfelt with life that I didn’t see the benefits of it.
¿Estaba usted triste?	–	were you sad?
Todo estaba muy oscuro en su casa.	–	Everything was very dark in his house.
Mientras estaba llorando tu recuerdo me invadió.	–	While I was crying your memory invaded me.
Estaba en riesgo de ser descubierta por sus acciones.	–	She was at risk of being found out for her actions.
Era muy difícil tomar un camino, estaba perdida.	–	It was very difficult to take a path, I was lost.
Estaba tan feliz de verte nuevamente.	–	I was so happy to see you again.
Solo tu hijo te estaba esperando.	–	Only your son was waiting for you.
Estaba celebrando su éxito en la vida.	–	I was celebrating his success in life.
El niño estaba durmiendo hasta tu llegada.	–	The child was sleeping until your arrival.
Estaba deseando conocerte.	–	He was looking forward to meeting you.
Estaba en shock por la noticia.	–	I was in shock at the news.
La música estaba muy alta.	–	The music was very loud.
Anoche cuando hablamos tu estaba ido.	–	Last night when we spoke, you were gone.
El bebé estaba jugando en su corral.	–	The baby was playing in his playpen.
Tu hijo se reía cuando el padre estaba hablando.	–	Your son laughed when the father was speaking.
¿Dónde estaba la cerveza que trajiste?	–	Where was the beer you brought?
El dinero estaba en tu cartera.	–	The money was in your wallet.
Fui a ver al jefe pero estaba reunido.	–	I went to see the boss but he was in a meeting.
¡Estaba tan triste para sonreír!	–	I was too sad to smile!

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