dónde estaba

where he was

dónde estaba(dohn-deh ehs-tah-bah)

phrase

1. (in statements; third person singular)

a. where he was

Me pregunto dónde estaba esta mañana si no estaba en la oficina.

I wonder where he was this morning if he wasn't at the office.

b. where she was

No sé dónde estaba cuando llamó, pero se escuchaba ruido de tráfico al fondo.

I don't kow where she was when she called, but you could hear traffic noise in the background.

c. where it was

Carlos me dijo el nombre del cine, pero no dónde estaba.

Carlos told me the name of the movie theater, but not where it was.

d.

no direct translation

No recuerdo exactamente dónde estaba la estación antes.

I can't remember where exactly the station used to be.

No tengo ni idea de dónde estaba su esposo; quizá en casa con los niños.

I have no idea where her husband was; maybe with the children at home.

2.

(formal)

(in statements; second person singular)

a. where you were

Ni sé dónde estaba ni me importa, solo sé que no estaba en su mesa, que es donde tiene que estar.

I don't know where you where nor do I care. I only know you weren't at your desk, which is where you should be.

3. (in statements; first person singular)

a. where I was

Óscar es muy despistado. Me preguntó que dónde estaba el domingo, ¡y yo estaba con él!

Oscar is very absent-minded. He asked me where I was on Sunday, when I was with him!

4. (in questions; third person singular)

a. where was he

¿Dónde estaba el mes pasado? - Se había ido de vacaciones con su novia.

Where was he last month? - He'd gone on vacation with his girlfriend.

b. where was she

¿Dónde estaba cuando te la encontraste y no te saludó?

Where was she when you met her and she wouldn't say hello to you?

c. where was it

Esta es la nueva sede del banco. - ¿Dónde estaba antes?

These are the bank's new headquarters. - Where was it before?

d.

no direct translation

¿Dónde estaba Ana el pasado fin de semana? - Se había ido a Venecia.

Where was Ana last weekend? - She'd gone to Venice.

¿Dónde estaba la sartén? - En su sitio de siempre.

Where was the frying pan? - In its usual place.

5.

(formal)

(in questions; second person singular)

a. where were you

¿Dónde estaba el día del asesinato entre las siete y las ocho de la tarde?

Where were you on the day of the murder between seven and eight in the evening?

6. (in questions; first person singular)

a. where was I

¿Dónde estaba cuando os hicisteis estas fotos? No salgo en ninguna.

Where was I when you took those photos? - I'm not in any of them.