What is the difference between "estaba" and "estuve"?

Question

What is the difference between "estaba" and "estuve"?

Hola, Bienvenido al foro! You can find answers to questions such as this in the Spanish Grammar catagory at the top of the page under the "Learn" tab. Very helpful! - rac1, May 28, 2012

Both past tenses. They are used in different ways. You'll have to go through the process of learning them. - sinsonte, May 28, 2012

Thank you! - damienolli, May 29, 2012

Answer 1

• "Yo estaba" - Imperfecto = I was

• "Yo estuve" - Pasado simple (simple past) = I was

In English both are the same thing (I was), but for us "Estaba" (imperfecto) indicates a longer duration while "Estuve" is a short action

Example:

Mientras estaba de vacaciones en Londres, estuve en el Britsh Museum.

"Estaba" (long action), includes "estuve" (specific action inside a longer action).

Josemaloru, thanks for expanation. It is useful also for me. :)) Muchísimas gracias :) - iana01, May 28, 2012

¡De nada! (you're welcome!). For Spanish people, in this case learning English it's very easy because "Imperfecto" = "Simple past" are the same thing.... I was / I was .... - josemaloru, May 28, 2012

Thank you! - damienolli, May 29, 2012

Answer 2

I see from your profile page that you first came to the forum in 2011, and just started becoming "active". Congratulations for diving in!

For this question, look in the learning tab and check out the acticles and lessons on the preterit and imperfect tenses. You will find a mountain of information there on this topic.

A good place for specifics is http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/59, and http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/60

Sorry that I can't show them as links, but I can't figure out how to do hat on my ipad!

Thanks for these links, Noetol :) I will check them as well :) Gracias. - iana01, May 28, 2012

Answer 3

"Estaba" es una forma del verbo "estar" en Imperfecto de Indicativo. "Estuve" - en Indefinido.