ya estaba

I was already

ya estaba(yah ehs-tah-bah)

phrase

1. (first person singular)

a. I was already

Ya estaba en camino al restaurante cuando mi cita me llamó para cancelar.

I was already on my way to the restaurant when my date called me to cancel.

2. (third person singular)

a. he was already

(masculine)

Yo no desperté al abuelo. Ya estaba despierto cuando llegué a casa.

I didn't wake up Grandpa. He was already awake when I got home.

b. she was already

(feminine)

Cuando conocí a Carla, ya estaba casada con Mike.

When I met Carla, she was already married to Mike.

c. it was already

Ya estaba oscuro afuera cuando salí del trabajo.

It was already dark outside when I left work.

d. was already

Bob ya estaba viviendo en Managua cuando Leticia se mudó con él.

Bob was already living in Managua when Leticia moved in with him.

3.

(formal)

(second person singular)

a. you were already

Yo sé que ya estaba pensando en vender la compañía antes de que yo se lo sugiriera.

I know you were already thinking of selling the company before I suggested it to you.