A specific equivocar question

Question

Are all 3 of these correct for "I was wrong" ? I'm confused.

Me equivoqué. (preterit)

Me equivocaba. (imperfect)

Estaba equivocada.

My Mexican friend who speaks fluent Spanish says "me equivocaba" is wrong, "me equivoqué" doesn't sound good. And that "estaba equivocada" is correct. But I have seen all 3 used.

Answer 1

Your first choice is the most common "Me equivoqué" (preterit).

The rest are gramatically correct but as S1r_Wakka mentioned, the cases where imperfect would be appropriate are very few.

Answer 2

Good question. I'm also struggling with those.

To me the first and third sound best.

The imperfect doesn't sound appropriate here because there was likely to be a specific moment in which you were wrong.

Why would the imperfect past be wrong for me equivocaba but be ok for estaba equivocado. - 0074b507, Jul 12, 2011

Answer 3

I believe the preterite to be the best because it is about a specific moment in time that you were wrong.

Answer 4

I found these in a phrase book: I was wrong =

1. (incorrect idea) me equivoqué, estaba equivocado
2. (incorrect choice) me confundí

Answer 5

Me equivoqué. (preterit)

Me equivocaba. (imperfect)

Estaba equivocada.

All three are correct.

I commit a mistake.

I used to be wrong.

I was wrong

It would be "I commited a mistake", but it sounds strange to say "commit". "I made a mistake" would be better. - koyan, Jul 12, 2011

Answer 6

imperfect is 'I used to be' rather than just 'I was'