How to Say "was located" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “was located” is “quedaba” — use 'quedaba' to describe the habitual or past position of a place or thing, often as a fixed point of reference..
quedaba
keh-DAH-bah/keˈðaβa/
Examples
El viejo mercado quedaba justo al lado de la iglesia.
The old market was located right next to the church.
Yo siempre quedaba en esa esquina para esperar el autobús.
I always waited (was situated) on that corner to wait for the bus. (Context: Habitual staying)
Location in the Past
When describing where a fixed building or place was, 'quedaba' is often used. It emphasizes the established, long-term location in the past, similar to 'it was situated there'.
se encontraba
en-kon-TRAH-bah/en.konˈtɾa.βa/
Examples
El tesoro se encontraba enterrado bajo el árbol.
The treasure was located buried under the tree.
Ella siempre encontraba la manera de hacerme reír.
She was always finding a way to make me laugh (or: She used to always find a way...).
Yo me encontraba muy cansado después del trabajo.
I was feeling very tired after work.
El museo se encontraba justo al lado del río.
The museum was located right next to the river.
Imperfect Tense Function
The form 'encontraba' describes actions that were continuous or habitual in the past. Think of it as 'I used to find' or 'He/She/It was finding' over a period of time.
Subject Identity
'Encontraba' can be used for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), or 'usted' (formal you). Context is needed to know who is performing the action.
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: “Using 'encontró' (found, single event) when describing a past habit: 'Cada día encontró un error.'”
Correction: Use 'encontraba' for habits: 'Cada día encontraba un error.' (Every day, he would find an error.)
Place vs. State
Related Translations
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