español · B1 · verb · 4 minutes
Estar in the imperfect
Keep a past location or condition open around another event.
Understand the choice
Use estaba forms for a location, condition, or progressive action already in progress at a past reference point. Estar is regular in the imperfect and carries the -aba pattern.
Core rule: Use estaba forms for ongoing past locations and conditions.
Notice it in context
Estaba cansada porque estábamos trabajando mucho.
I was tired because we were working a lot.
Use estaba forms for ongoing past locations and conditions.
Estabas en Madrid cuando llamé.
You were in Madrid when I called.
Estabas supplies the ongoing location.
Las tiendas estaban cerradas.
The shops were closed.
Estaban describes the background state.
What to remember
- Estaba can mean I was, he was, she was, or formal you were.
- Only estábamos has a written accent; the other forms preserve regular -aba stress.
Common trap: Do not confuse estaba with estuvo. Estaba opens or maintains a background state; estuvo normally presents that state as a completed whole.