Estar in Past Tenses: Estaba vs Estuvo

Vocabulary flashcards about the use of estar in imperfect vs preterite (Estaba vs Estuvo) and related tenses.

Estaba

Imperfect past tense of estar; used for ongoing past states/descriptions: positions, locations, actions, conditions, emotions; no definite end or timeframe.

Estuvo

Preterite past tense of estar; used for specific, completed past events or time frames (a particular moment or occasion, e.g., estuvo en la fiesta).

Imperfect

Past tense describing ongoing, habitual, or non-specific past actions/states; background descriptions or conditions without a defined endpoint.

Preterite

Past tense describing completed actions with definite time frames or specific moments; used for single events or interruptions.