fueron
/FWEH-ron/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mis amigos fueron al cine anoche.
A1My friends went to the movies last night.
¿A dónde fueron ustedes de vacaciones?
A2Where did you all go on vacation?
Las cosas no fueron como planeamos.
B1Things didn't go as we planned.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Tense of 'Ir' (To Go)
'Fueron' is a past tense form of 'van' (they go). Use it to talk about movement to a destination that happened and is now over.
Always Use 'a' for Destination
When you say where someone went, remember to use the little word 'a' after 'fueron'. For example, 'Fueron a la playa' (They went to the beach).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Context is Key
Mistake: "Is 'fueron' always about movement?"
Correction: No. It can also mean 'they were'. Look for clues. If a place comes after it (like 'al parque' or 'a casa'), it almost always means 'they went'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Telling a Story
This form is perfect for storytelling when you're listing a series of completed actions. 'Primero, fueron al banco. Luego, fueron al supermercado.' (First, they went to the bank. Then, they went to the supermarket.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fueron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fueron' to mean 'they went'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can one word mean two totally different things like 'they were' and 'they went'?
It's a historical quirk of Spanish! The verbs 'ser' (to be) and 'ir' (to go) are both very irregular. A long time ago, their past tense forms merged together because they sounded similar. Now, they are identical in this specific past tense (the preterite). You always have to use the context of the sentence to know which meaning is intended.
What's the difference between 'fueron' and 'eran'?
Both can mean 'they were', but they are used for different situations. Use 'fueron' for actions or states that have a clear beginning and end, or are seen as a completed event (e.g., 'Fueron amigos por 10 años'). Use 'eran' for descriptions, background information, or habitual actions in the past without a specific endpoint (e.g., 'Cuando eran niños, jugaban mucho').