How to Say "they were" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “they were” is “estuvieron” — use 'estuvieron' to talk about where 'they' were located in the past or a temporary state/emotion they experienced..
estuvieron
/es-too-VYEH-rohn//estuˈβjeɾon/
Examples
Ellos estuvieron en la biblioteca hasta las cinco.
They were at the library until five o'clock.
¿Ustedes estuvieron aquí ayer por la mañana?
Were you (plural, formal) here yesterday morning?
Las llaves estuvieron debajo de la mesa todo el tiempo.
The keys were under the table the whole time.
Después de la noticia, estuvieron muy tristes por un rato.
After the news, they were very sad for a while.
The Simple Past (Preterite)
The form 'estuvieron' tells you that the action started and finished at a specific time in the past. It's used for completed events, like 'They were at the party for two hours.'
Irregularity of Estar
The verb 'estar' is irregular in the simple past. Notice how it uses the 'estuv-' stem, not the regular '-ar' ending pattern. You just have to memorize this change!
Ser vs. Estar in the Past
Remember, 'estuvieron' comes from 'estar,' which describes temporary states. If you used 'fueron' (from 'ser'), it would mean their condition was permanent or inherent, which is usually incorrect for feelings like sadness or tiredness.
Using the wrong verb for temporary states
Mistake: “Ellos fueron cansados.”
Correction: Ellos estuvieron cansados. (Use 'estar' for temporary states like tiredness.)
fueron
/FWEH-ron//ˈfweɾon/
Examples
Ellos fueron buenos estudiantes.
They were good students.
Las vacaciones fueron fantásticas.
The vacation was fantastic.
Los libros fueron escritos por un autor famoso.
The books were written by a famous author.
Past Tense of 'Ser' (To Be)
'Fueron' is a past tense form of 'son' (they are). Use it to describe what people or things were like, their identity, or their profession in the past.
Building Block for Passive Voice
You'll also see 'fueron' used with another verb's past form (like 'visto' or 'creado') to say something was done to an object. Example: 'Los edificios fueron diseñados por ella' (The buildings were designed by her).
Using 'Fueron' vs. 'Eran'
Mistake: “Cuando eran niños, fueron muy traviesos.”
Correction: The choice depends on what you want to say. 'Eran' describes an ongoing state in the past ('they used to be naughty'). 'Fueron' treats their naughtiness as a completed phase ('they were naughty for that period of their childhood'). 'Eran' is more common for general descriptions.
eran
/EH-rahn//ˈeɾan/
Examples
Mis abuelos eran muy amables.
My grandparents were very kind.
De niños, ellos eran los mejores amigos.
As children, they were best friends.
Eran las diez de la noche cuando empezó a llover.
It was ten at night when it started to rain.
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).
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).
tenían
Examples
Los niños tenían sueño y querían ir a la cama.
The children were sleepy and wanted to go to bed.
estuvieran
es-too-VYEH-rahn/es.tuˈβje.ɾan/
Examples
Mi madre quería que mis hermanos estuvieran en casa para la cena.
My mother wanted my brothers to be home for dinner.
Mi madre quería que mis hermanos **estuvieran** en casa para la cena.
My mother wanted my brothers to be home for dinner.
Si **estuvieran** de vacaciones, no tendrían este problema.
If they were on vacation, they wouldn't have this problem.
No creía que ustedes **estuvieran** tan cansados.
I didn't believe that you all (formal) were so tired.
The Special 'If' Tense
Use 'estuvieran' in the 'if' part of a hypothetical sentence about the present or future (e.g., 'Si estuvieran ricos, viajarían' — If they were rich, they would travel).
Past Wishes and Feelings
This form is required when the main part of the sentence expresses a past wish, doubt, or emotion about a secondary action: 'Me alegró que estuvieran sanos' (It made me happy that they were healthy).
Using the wrong past tense
Mistake: “Dudé que ellos estaban en casa.”
Correction: Dudé que ellos estuvieran en casa. (You need the special subjunctive form after verbs of doubt in the past.)
fueran
FWEH-rahn/ˈfwe.ɾan/
Examples
Si ellos no fueran tan ruidosos, dormiría mejor.
If they weren't so noisy, I would sleep better.
El profesor pidió que los trabajos fueran entregados antes del lunes.
The professor asked that the papers be (were) submitted before Monday.
Me gustaría que mis amigos fueran más puntuales.
I would like it if my friends were more punctual.
The 'If/Then' Structure
Use 'fueran' in the 'if' part of a past hypothetical sentence: 'Si ellos fueran ricos...' (If they were rich...).
The Subjunctive Mood
'Fueran' is used after verbs of emotion, doubt, or request (like 'querer que' or 'pedir que') when referring to a past action or condition.
Confusing Ser and Estar
Mistake: “Using 'estuvieran' for permanent states. e.g., 'Si fueran (ser) de España' (If they were from Spain).”
Correction: Use 'fueran' (ser) for identity, origin, or inherent qualities, even in the subjunctive.
Ser vs. Estar for Past Descriptions
Related Translations
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