estaban
/es-TAH-bahn/
were
Estaban is used here to show where things were located in the past, like books on a table.
estaban(Verb)
were
?referring to location or position
used to be
?referring to a past, ongoing location
📝 In Action
Los libros estaban sobre la mesa.
A1The books were on the table.
Ayer, mis padres no estaban en casa.
A1Yesterday, my parents weren't at home.
¿Ustedes estaban en el cine cuando llamé?
A2Were you all at the movies when I called?
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'estaban' for?
Use 'estaban' when talking about 'they' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all' (ustedes). It's the past tense form of 'están'.
Describing a Past Scene
This verb form, called the imperfect, is perfect for setting the scene in a story. It describes where people or things were over a period of time, not just for a single moment.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'estaban' vs. 'estuvieron'
Mistake: "Mis amigos estaban en el concierto anoche. (Implies they were there for an indefinite time, maybe you didn't see the end.)"
Correction: Mis amigos estuvieron en el concierto anoche. (This is better for saying they went to a completed event.) Use 'estaban' to describe the background, and 'estuvieron' for a finished action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Painting a Picture
Think of 'estaban' as the background of a painting. It tells you what was generally happening or where things were. For example: 'El sol brillaba, los pájaros cantaban y los niños estaban en el parque.' (The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the children were in the park.)
We use estaban to describe how a group of people were feeling in the past, such as being happy (contentos).
estaban(Verb)
were
?referring to a temporary state, feeling, or condition
felt
?describing an emotion, e.g., 'they felt happy'
,seemed / looked
?describing an appearance, e.g., 'they looked tired'
📝 In Action
Los niños estaban muy contentos con sus regalos.
A2The children were very happy with their gifts.
Las ventanas estaban cerradas por el frío.
A2The windows were closed because of the cold.
Después de la carrera, todos estaban agotados.
B1After the race, everyone was exhausted.
💡 Grammar Points
Temporary States, Not Permanent Traits
Use 'estaban' for feelings, moods, and conditions that can change. Think of it as describing 'how' something was, not 'what' it was.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Estaban' vs. 'Eran' (Ser)
Mistake: "Ellos eran tristes ayer."
Correction: Ellos estaban tristes ayer. Use 'estaban' for a temporary feeling (sadness). 'Eran tristes' would mean they were sad people in general, as a personality trait.
⭐ Usage Tips
Condition vs. Characteristic
A simple trick: If you're describing something that could be different tomorrow (a mood, a physical condition like being tired, or a state like being open/closed), you'll almost always need 'estaban'.
When paired with a gerund (like 'jugando'), estaban describes an action that was happening continuously in the past (they were playing).
📝 In Action
Mis amigos estaban jugando al fútbol.
A2My friends were playing soccer.
Cuando llegué, ellos estaban cenando.
B1When I arrived, they were eating dinner.
Los estudiantes estaban escuchando atentamente al profesor.
B1The students were listening attentively to the professor.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing an Action in Progress
Combine 'estaban' with a verb ending in '-ando' or '-iendo' to describe an action that was happening over a period of time in the past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Second Verb
Mistake: "Ellos estaban en el parque."
Correction: Ellos estaban corriendo en el parque. The first sentence is correct for location, but if you want to say what they *were doing*, you need the second verb (corriendo).
⭐ Usage Tips
Interrupted Actions
This structure is perfect for talking about an ongoing action that got interrupted. For example: 'Estaban viendo una película cuando se fue la luz.' (They were watching a movie when the power went out.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: estaban
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly describes how a group of people were feeling at a party?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest difference between 'estaban' and 'eran'?
Think of it this way: 'estaban' is for 'how' they were (feeling tired, in the kitchen), while 'eran' is for 'what' they were (doctors, tall). 'Estaban' is for temporary conditions and locations; 'eran' is for more permanent characteristics and identities.
And what about 'estaban' vs. 'estuvieron'?
'Estaban' describes the background or an ongoing past action without a clear end. 'Estuvieron' describes a completed action that happened and finished. For example, 'Estaban en la playa' (They were at the beach - setting the scene). 'Estuvieron en la playa por tres horas' (They were at the beach for three hours - a finished block of time).
Is 'estaban' only for 'they'?
No, it's also for 'ustedes', which is the formal or plural 'you'. So, 'Ustedes estaban en la reunión' means 'You all were in the meeting'.