The spanish word for was

Question

Can somebody explain to me when I should use estuve and when i should use estaba ...

Please remember that in English the names of all languages are Capitalized! Spanish is always Spanish. I can see missing the occasional "i" but not this. Please review my "Watch Your Language - Part 1" post. - Jubilado, Nov 7, 2015

Answer 1

I also struggle with this! This guide should help you out:

http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/64

But to put it simply estuve is used when an action occurred in the past, at a particular time, whereas estaba is used for past continuous actions, or actions which occurred repeatedly. Think of like "I used to be..." or "I was being...".

I edited to make your link live. :) - bosquederoble, Nov 7, 2015

Answer 2

Estuve is used when you were in a place that references a single point in time or you are declaring a punctual action of being in a place in the past. Estaba is used when you want to talk about a context that is continuous in time, a determinant of the situation that you are talking about, determining 'where you were", or what you were doing. Examples:

Yo estaba solo ayer en el examen: I was alone yesterday during the test.

Yo estuve sólo en el examen: I was the only one in the test.

Yo estuve con tu amiga: I was with the girl that is your friend. In some informal context this may mean that he kissed or had relations with your friend.

Yo estuve en casa todo el día: I was at home all the day. In this sentence the speaker is stating the fact of being at home, regardless of the time interval, emphasizing the fact and not the circumstance (la circunstancia). If you said Yo estaba en casa, that would be translated as, "I was staying at home." The emphasis is now on the circumstance, and this sentence may be used as an excuse in an interrogation to justify that you were not in a place outside home during a specific interval of time. But "Yo estuve en casa" may be used for the same purpose, but excusing yourself for a specific time and not an interval.

Answer 3

To my understanding:

In addition to the uses Richaud noted, one can use the imperfect at times for a single completed action if it is framing another action, and simply serves as background.

Mientras estaba en la biblioteca ayer, vi a María.

While I was at the library yesterday, I saw Maria.

I think I could also say:

Cuando estuve en la biblioteca ayer, vi a María.

When I was at the library yesterday, I saw Maria.

If I am correct in this, I would be fascinated by a native opinion if there is a difference in the sense given by the sentences or not.

Answer 4

bosque:

That notion of completed action is what I don't understand.... or the "personal A" concept either...

The thing is this: if it is in the past, then all of the actions are completed, else they would be left for the future, right?

You can use estaba, because I am relating to someone that I saw María while I was at the library doing something.

You can use estuve, in the following manner:

Yesterday I was in the library. While there, I saw María.

In your English mind do both "was" have the same "meaning" or they differ a bit?

:D