estuvo
/es-TOO-boh/
was
The word 'estuvo' is used to talk about location in a specific, completed time in the past, meaning 'she was at the beach.'
estuvo(Verb)
was
?in a specific place for a finished time
he was / she was / you (formal) were
?clarifying the person
📝 In Action
Mi hermana estuvo en la playa ayer.
A1My sister was at the beach yesterday.
El libro estuvo sobre la mesa, pero ya no.
A2The book was on the table, but not anymore.
¿Usted estuvo en la reunión del lunes?
A2Were you (formal) at the meeting on Monday?
💡 Grammar Points
What 'estuvo' does
'Estuvo' talks about where someone or something was at a specific, completed time in the past. Think of it as putting a pin on a map at a specific moment that is now over.
Location is always 'estar'
Remember the rule: for location, you always use a form of 'estar', never 'ser'. So to say 'he was in the park', you need 'estuvo', not 'fue'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Estuvo' vs. 'Estaba'
Mistake: "Mi abuela estaba enferma por tres días."
Correction: Mi abuela estuvo enferma por tres días. Because we're talking about a specific, completed block of time ('for three days'), we use 'estuvo'. Use 'estaba' for descriptions in the past without a clear end, like 'The sun was shining'.
'Estuvo' vs. 'Fue' (from 'ser')
Mistake: "Él fue en la oficina ayer."
Correction: Él estuvo en la oficina ayer. To talk about where someone was (location), you always need a form of 'estar'. 'Fue' is used for who someone was or what something was like (identity/characteristics).
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for Time Clues
Words like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'anoche' (last night), 'la semana pasada' (last week), or 'por dos horas' (for two hours) are strong hints that you need to use 'estuvo'.
Use 'estuvo' to describe a temporary state or condition in the past, such as 'he was very tired.'
estuvo(Verb)
was
?describing a temporary state, feeling, or condition
it was
?giving an opinion on an experience, like food or a movie
📝 In Action
Él estuvo muy cansado después del partido.
A1He was very tired after the game.
La sopa estuvo deliciosa, gracias.
A2The soup was delicious, thank you.
La puerta estuvo cerrada toda la mañana.
A2The door was closed all morning.
💡 Grammar Points
Temporary Conditions
Use 'estuvo' for feelings, moods, and physical states that have a beginning and an end. You weren't always tired, you were tired after the game.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Estuvo' vs. 'Era'
Mistake: "La fiesta era divertida anoche."
Correction: La fiesta estuvo divertida anoche. We use 'estuvo' to give our opinion on a specific event. 'Era' would describe something that was always fun, like a permanent characteristic.
⭐ Usage Tips
Give Your Opinion
A great way to use 'estuvo' is to talk about your experience. 'La película estuvo genial' (The movie was great). 'El concierto estuvo increíble' (The concert was incredible). It shows you're reacting to something specific.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: estuvo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'estuvo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'estuvo' and 'estaba'?
Think of it like this: 'estuvo' is for an action or state with a clear beginning and end, like a snapshot. 'Mi jefe estuvo en la oficina por dos horas' (My boss was in the office for two hours). 'Estaba' is for describing a scene or an ongoing action in the past, like a video playing. 'Hacía sol y los pájaros cantaban; yo estaba feliz' (It was sunny and the birds were singing; I was happy).
When do I use 'estuvo' vs. 'fue'?
It's the classic 'estar' vs. 'ser' difference, but in the past. Use 'estuvo' for temporary states and locations (how you are, where you are). 'Ella estuvo cansada' (She was tired). 'Ella estuvo en Chile' (She was in Chile). Use 'fue' for permanent characteristics and identity (what you are, who you are). 'La película fue aburrida' (The movie was boring - its essential quality). 'Ella fue mi profesora' (She was my teacher - her identity/role).
Who does 'estuvo' refer to?
'Estuvo' can refer to three different people: 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (you, formal). You can usually tell who it is from the rest of the sentence. For example, 'Juan estuvo aquí' refers to 'él' (he).