estar Imperfect Conjugation
estar — to be
Estar is regular in the imperfect: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban.
estar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect for 'was' when describing background states, ongoing past locations, or how someone was feeling without a specific end time.
Notes on estar in the Imperfect
Estar is regular in the imperfect. Note the accent on the 'nosotros' form (estábamos).
Example Sentences
Yo estaba muy feliz en ese entonces.
I was very happy back then.
yo
Los niños estaban en el jardín.
The children were in the garden.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Estábamos preocupados por ti.
We were worried about you.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: estabamos
Correct: estábamos
Why: The 'nosotros' form of all -ar verbs in the imperfect requires a written accent on the first 'a' of the ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estoy
The present tense of estar is irregular in the 'yo' form (estoy) and requires accents on most other forms (estás, está, están).
Preterite
yo: estuve
The preterite of estar uses an irregular 'estuv-' stem: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron.
Future
yo: estaré
Estar is regular in the future tense: estaré, estarás, estará, estaremos, estaréis, estarán.
Conditional
yo: estaría
Estar is regular in the conditional: estaría, estarías, estaría, estaríamos, estaríais, estarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: esté
The present subjunctive of estar is irregular and all forms except 'nosotros' have accents: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'estuv-' stem: estuviera, estuvieras, estuviera, estuviéramos, estuvierais, estuvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: está
The imperative of estar is used to tell someone to 'be' in a certain state: está, esté, estemos, estad, estén.
Negative Imperative
yo: no estés
Negative commands for estar use the present subjunctive: no estés, no esté, no estemos, no estéis, no estén.