eran
EH-rahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos eran muy amables.
A2My grandparents were very kind.
De niños, ellos eran los mejores amigos.
A2As children, they were best friends.
Eran las diez de la noche cuando empezó a llover.
B1It was ten at night when it started to rain.
Ustedes eran los únicos que sabían el secreto.
B1You all were the only ones who knew the secret.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing the Past with 'Eran'
Use 'eran' to talk about what people or things were like over a period of time in the past. Think of it as painting a picture or setting the scene for a story, not describing a single, finished action. For example: 'Las casas eran viejas y grandes' (The houses were old and big).
'Eran' (from Ser) vs. 'Estaban' (from Estar)
Just like 'ser' and 'estar' mean 'to be' in the present, 'eran' and 'estaban' both mean 'they were' in the past. Use 'eran' for more permanent things like identity, occupation, or characteristics. Use 'estaban' for temporary states like location or feelings. 'Ellos eran doctores' (They were doctors) vs. 'Ellos estaban en el hospital' (They were in the hospital).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Choosing 'Eran' vs. 'Fueron'
Mistake: "Los dinosaurios fueron grandes."
Correction: Los dinosaurios eran grandes. Use 'eran' for descriptions of how things were. Use 'fueron' (the other past tense of 'ser') for completed events or to say what someone/something was for a defined time, like 'Fueron los ganadores' (They were the winners).
⭐ Usage Tips
Storytelling with 'Eran'
'Eran' is your best friend for starting a story. It sets the background. For example, you can start a story with: 'Eran los años 80. Las calles eran ruidosas y la gente era optimista.' (It was the 80s. The streets were noisy and the people were optimistic.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: eran
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly describes what your friends were like as people?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'eran' and 'fueron'?
Think of it like this: 'eran' describes the background, and 'fueron' describes the action. Use 'eran' for descriptions ('The houses were old'). Use 'fueron' for completed events ('They were the champions').
Is 'eran' from the verb 'ser' (to be) or 'ir' (to go)?
'Eran' always comes from 'ser' (to be). The past form for 'ir' (to go) is different: 'iban'. So, 'ellos eran' means 'they were,' and 'ellos iban' means 'they were going.'
Can I use 'eran' for just one person?
No, 'eran' is for multiple people ('they' or 'you all'). For one person ('he', 'she', or the formal 'you'), you would use 'era'. For example, 'Él era mi profesor' (He was my teacher).