What is the difference between iba and fue?

Question

For example... él iba a la biblioteca. or... él fue a la biblioteca.

Answer 1

Hi and welcome to the forum. The difference is between the preterit and imperfect tenses in Spanish.

Iba a la biblioteca = He used to go/he was going to...

Fue a la biblioteca = He went to.....

Answer 2

Iba is Imperfect and fue is Preterit. Iba and fue are from the infinitive verb ir (to go) Iba is used for yo/el/ella/usted and fue is used for el/ella/usted Imperfect is used for actions that were done in the past and still continuing whereas Preterit are used for actions that were done in the past and finished in the past.

Good answer. Just keep in mind that ´imperfect´ action begins and finishes in the past (without a definite beginning or a definite end). They are not ´still continuing´. Iba a la biblioteca (pero ya no va) - mediterrunio, Dec 7, 2010