Estar (to be) is regular in El Pretérito Imperfecto.
Have a look at its conjugation:
| yo | estaba |
| tú | estabas |
| él / ella / Ud. | estaba |
| nosotros / nosotras |
estábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras |
estabais |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | estaban |
Listen to these examples of estar in El Pretérito Imperfecto.
Yo estaba en Bilbao cuando pasó.
I was in Bilbao when it happened.
¿Dónde estabas tú el otro día?
Where were you the other day?
Ella estaba enfadada con su madre.
She was cross with her mother.
Nosotras estábamos de vacaciones entonces.
We were on holidays then.
¿Estabais vosotros enfermos en el hospital?
Were you ill in hospital?
Ellos estaban muy contentos con los resultados.
They were very happy with the results.
Don't get confused with the verb ser, which also translates as to be.
See Conjugate ser in El Pretérito Imperfecto (imperfect tense).
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Yo estaba en Bilbao cuando pasó.
I was in Bilbao when it happened.
Ellos estaban muy contentos con los resultados.
They were very happy with the results.
¿Dónde estabas tú el otro día?
Where were you the other day?
Nosotras estábamos de vacaciones entonces.
We were on holidays then.
¿Estabais vosotros enfermos en el hospital?
Were you ill in hospital?
Ella estaba enfadada con su madre.
She was cross with her mother.
