Question
12 May 2016
- English (US)
-
Spanish (Mexico)
Question about Spanish (Mexico)
What is the difference between estuvo and estaba ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between estuvo and estaba ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
When you "disagree" with an answer
The owner of it will not be notified.
Only the user who asked this question will see who disagreed with this answer.
Read more comments
- English (US)
- Spanish (Mexico)
El estuvo aqui - He was here.
El estaba aqui - He was here. Only difference is that estuvo is more common when used as past tense and estaba is used as past tense and where the item or person, etc was placed.
- English (US)
- Spanish (Mexico)
estuvo.... is a finished action the past.
estuvo aquí, pero ya se fué.
estaba ... also for past, but it's used in a more descriptive way,as in to set the scene when telling a story.
e.g. el estaba sentado en el sillon, cuando de repente sonó el teléfono
- English (US)
Sorry, I still don't get it. So when do I use estaba and when should I use estuvo? Or they both work fine in any situation?
- Spanish (Mexico)
"Estuvo" is used for past actions that you know are finished. "Estaba" is used for past actions that may or may not have finished.
"Ella estuvo viendo televisión"
If she was watching TV but no longer is.
"Ella estaba viendo televisión"
If she was watching TV the last time you checked but you don't know if she still is or not.
I hope it helps.
- English (US)
There are 2 past tenses in Spanish: the preterite and imperfect. The imperfect tense is used for uncompleted actions, interrupted actions, repeated actions in the past, and detailed descriptions of past events.
- English (US)
Here are examples:
Era lluviando ayer cuándo yo rompió mi paraguas
-It was raining yesterday when I broke my umbrella
Lluvió
-It rained
The imperfect tense is more of a "something was happening" tense whilst the preterite is more of a "something happened" tense.
- English (US)
Another example:
Cuándo era un niño, jugaba con mis amigos.
-When I was little, I used to play with my friends
This is for repeated actions that you used to do.
- English (US)
The imperfect tense is also used for example when you have witnessed a crime scene and you're giving a detailed description about the suspect.
El ladrón no tenía pelo y tenía un coche blanco.
-The robber had no hair and a white car.
- Spanish (Mexico)
- English (US) Near fluent
"estuvo" is preterit. something that occurred in the past.
"estaba" is imperfect tense. describes past actions that occurred continuously or repeatedly.
- Spanish (Mexico)
estuvo y estaba son sinónimos p.e Ella estuvo aquí hace cinco minutos o Ella estaba en el super hace poco.
- Spanish (Mexico)
@IMoo ejemplo: Yo "estaba" ahí. El "estuvo" ahí.
- Spanish (Mexico)
estuvo...it means for a long time or many times.i.e el estuvo corriendo 1 hora diaria durante 2 semanas
or just to tell I.e el estuvo en su cuarto to do el dia
ESTABA.we use it when suddenly something happens I.e El estaba en su cuarto cuando yo llegue. example #2 El estaba en su cuarto cuando el terremoto empezo. this are some examples.
- Spanish (Mexico)
@IMoo they work fine in any situation about past tense
- Spanish (Mexico)
@RickyC99 it’s wrong, the right way is
Estaba lloviendo ayer, cuando rompí mi paraguas
It was raining yesterday when I broke my umbrella
[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!
Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Related questions
- What is the difference between estuvo and fuera ?
- What is the difference between estuvo and fue ?
- What is the difference between estaba and fue ?
- What is the difference between fue and estuvo ?
- What is the difference between fue and estaba ?
Newest Questions
- What is the difference between before and back before ?
- What is the difference between allege and claim ?
- What is the difference between wear out and wear off ?
- What is the difference between put up with and come to terms with ?
- What is the difference between heading off and heading out ?
Topic Questions
- What is the difference between heading off and heading out ?
- What is the difference between I've been wondering what it tastes like and I've been curious what...
- What is the difference between candy and sweets ?
- What is the difference between I have been doing and I have been done ?
- What is the difference between library and bookcase ?
Recommended Questions
- What is the difference between te amo and te adoro and te quiero ?
- What is the difference between te gusto？ and te gusta？ ?
- What is the difference between chingada madre and puta madre ?
- What is the difference between me encantas and te quiero and te amo ?
- What is the difference between como and come and comes ?
Previous question/ Next question
What’s this symbol?
The Language Level symbol shows a user's proficiency in the languages they're interested in. Setting your Language Level helps other users provide you with answers that aren't too complex or too simple.
-
Beginner
Has difficulty understanding even short answers in this language.
-
Beginner-Intermediate
Can ask simple questions and can understand simple answers.
-
Intermediate
Can ask all types of general questions and can understand longer answers.
-
Advanced
Can understand long, complex answers.
Sign up for premium, and you can play other user's audio/video answers.
Tired of searching? HiNative can help you find that answer you're looking for.
