ibas
“ibas” means “you were going” in Spanish (continuous past action).
you were goingAlso: you used to go, you would go
📝 In Action
¿Adónde ibas cuando te llamé?
A1Where were you going when I called you?
Antes, ibas a la playa todos los veranos, ¿verdad?
A2Before, you used to go to the beach every summer, right?
Ibas a decirme algo importante cuando nos interrumpieron.
B1You were going to tell me something important when they interrupted us.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ibas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'ibas' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology
The verb 'ir' is one of the most complex verbs in the language, combining roots from several different Latin verbs related to movement: *ire* (to go), *vadere* (to go, walk), and *esse* (to be). The imperfect form 'ibas' specifically derives from the Latin verb *ire*.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ibas' and 'eras'?
Both are descriptive past forms. 'Ibas' comes from 'ir' (to go) and describes movement or travel ('you were going'). 'Eras' comes from 'ser' (to be) and describes identity or permanent characteristics ('you were tall,' 'you were a doctor').
Why is 'ir' so irregular?
The verb 'ir' is highly irregular because over centuries, Spanish speakers merged forms from several old Latin verbs that all meant 'to go.' This blending resulted in a unique mix of stems across its tenses.