
estar Present Conjugation
estar — to be
The present tense of estar is irregular in the 'yo' form (estoy) and requires accents on most other forms (estás, está, están).
estar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present to describe current locations, temporary states, moods, or to form the present progressive (estoy comiendo).
Notes on estar in the Present
The 'yo' form ends in -oy. Additionally, unlike regular -ar verbs, estar requires an accent on the last syllable for tú, él/ella, and ellos/ellas.
Example Sentences
Estoy muy cansado hoy.
I am very tired today.
yo
¿Dónde estás ahora?
Where are you now?
tú
Estamos en el supermercado.
We are at the supermarket.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: esta
Correct: está
Why: Without the accent, 'esta' means 'this' (feminine). The accent is crucial to show it is a verb.
Mistake: esto
Correct: estoy
Why: Learners assume the -o ending for 'yo', but estar uses the irregular -oy ending.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: estuve
The preterite of estar uses an irregular 'estuv-' stem: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron.
Imperfect
yo: estaba
Estar is regular in the imperfect: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban.
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.