What is the difference between esté and este?

Question

I would like to know how or if the accent mark changes the meaning of the word... It is taken from the phrase- Esté era un gato... which I take to mean, There was a cat or There once was a cat or Once upon a time there was a cat...

Thank you!

Answer 1

Este = This. That phrase says, "This was a cat." Sounds kind of gruesome...

With an accent, Esté, it's the subjunctive form of Estar. "Espero que ya esté cuando llegamos!" I hope he/she is already there when we arrive!

Answer 2

Hello, please use the Search button in Answers. This question has been answered several times.