who were

quiénes fueron

que fueron

who were(hu wuhr)

phrase

1. (in a question)

a. quiénes fueron (indicating a permanent quality)

Who were those kids who waved at you?

¿Quiénes fueron aquellos chicos que te saludaron?

b. quiénes eran (indicating a permanent quality)

¿Who were your favorite athletes when you were a kid?

¿Quiénes eran tus atletas favoritos cuando eras joven?

2. (in a restrictive clause)

a. que fueron (indicating a permanent quality)

The librarian invited several authors who were students here once.

La bibliotecaria invitó varios autores que fueron estudiantes aquí una vez.

b. que eran (indicating a permanent quality)

Some of the neighbors who were artists donated paintings for the auction.

Algunos de los vecinos que eran artistas donaron pinturas para la subasta.

c. que estuvieron (indicating a temporary quality)

I helped a few of the customers who were in the line.

Ayudé algunos de los clientes que estuvieron en la fila.

d. que estaban (indicating a temporary quality)

I asked the students who were talking in the back row to leave the class.

Le pedí a los estudiantes que estaban hablando en la última fila que se marcharan de la clase.

3. (in a nonrestrictive clause)

a. quienes fueron (indicating a permanent quality)

I greeted our visitors, who were all engineers before they retired, and showed them our factory.

Salude a nuestros visitantes, quienes fueron ingenieros antes de jubilarse, y les mostre nuestra fábrica.

b. quienes eran (indicating a permanent quality)

John and Ana, who were math teachers at the high school last year, transfered to another school.

John y Ana, quienes eran maestros de matemáticas en la escuela superior el año pasado, fueron transferidos a otra escuela.

c. quienes estuvieron (indicating a temporary quality)

The manager picked a fight with the band members, who were calm during the whole situation.

El representante empresario empezó una pelea con los miembros del grupo musical, quienes estuvieron calmados en todo momento.

d. quienes estaban (indicating a temporary quality)

The twins, who were always riding bikes around the neighborhood, have their own bike shop.

Los gemelos, quienes siempre estaban paseando en bici por el vecindario, ahora tienen su propia tienda de bicicletas.