The main difference is that the verb estar is conjugated in two forms, imperfect (pretérito imperfecto) and indefinite (pretérito indefinido). The second difference is the use of each verb tense.
This is one of the most frequent doubts of foreign students. For native Spanish speakers the difference is perhaps obvious, but when it comes to understanding the difference we must look for the clearest way to make it easy to remember.
In this post you will learn the differences with examples and in context.
When do we use estaba?
We use the verb estaba when we want to indicate that the action we are expressing takes place simultaneously with another, is unfinished or does not specify the time. The emphasis is on the duration of the action.
Examples:
Estaba en la ducha cuando me llamaste.
Estaba lloviendo cuando llamé al taxi.
Estaba muy nublado.
When do we use estuve?
The form estuve is used in the indefinite past tense to indicate a specific, specific event that took place in the past. Here the emphasis is on the completed action.
Examples:
Ayer estuve todo el día en casa.
Estuve muy ocupada toda la semana.
Many times the difference between estaba and estuve also lies in the perspective of the speaker, that is, using one or the other depends on how one visualizes that situation already past, if it was one-off or lasted a long time, and how we want to emphasize that it ended.
Examples:
- No fuimos a la playa porque Silvio estaba enfermo. → I don’t know if he is still sick. The emphasis is on the duration of the action.
- No fuimos a la playa porque Silvio estuvo enfermo. → Now he’s okay, the action is finished.
To practice grammar points it is best to use context, think of a topic to practice grammar, review or teach vocabulary and practice conversation.
