How do you say " I was" ?

Question

What is the difference between "yo era", "yo estaba" and "yo estuve". I am looking for a phrase to say "I was"

Answer 1

You guys forgot "fui"- I was. (Ser, preterite tense.)

(Yo) fuí en la estación de policía. I was at the police station.

Como un niño, (yo) era bajo. As a child, I was short.

(Yo) estuve triste ayer. (I was sad yesterday.)

(Yo) estaba en la escuela todos los días. I was at school every day.

And what about-

(Yo) tuve calor esta tarde.. (I was hot this afternoon.)

This is a very complete answer, however, notice that "Yo fui" can be wether "I was", or "I went". For example: Yo fui un gran profesor (I was a great professor), Yo fuí a trabajar hoy (I went to work today) - axolos, FEB 11, 2010

Answer 2

El año pasado estuve en los Estados Unidos. Last year I was in the United States. Cuando era joven. When I was young.

Answer 3

Your question spans two fairly broad (and for many, difficult) topics. Try reading the reference articles on the difference between "ser" and "estar" and also the one(s) on the uses of the imperfect and preterit tenses.

Answer 4

to be= "ser" or "estar"

IMPERFECT PRETERIT: yo era (ser): yo era la mejor en la clase de inglés.

PRETERIT: yo estuve (estar): yo estuve sentada esperandote toda la noche.

IMPERFECT PRETERIT: yo estaba (estar); yo estaba sentada esperando a que llegaras.

Answer 5

Try the "Conjugator" under the "more" tab above.

Then type in "ser" and then "estar" (these are the two Spanish verbs for "to be"

You will see how these verbs are conjugated and find answers to your question.

Answer 6

"yo era" could be applied to an english phrase such as "i was a child"="yo era nino". "yo estuve' implies action, as in "i was looking"="yo estuve mirando". "yo estaba" implies a state of being in the past tense, but not in a permanent sense, as in "yo era". an example: "i was sad"="yo estaba triste". i hope this helps.