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Ren
How do you say "was" in spanish?
Jun 13, 2014 8:53 PM
Answers · 8
2
!Estaba!
:)
June 13, 2014
1
The verb "to be" in Spanish has two variants: "ser" and "estar".
"Ser" is understood as a permanent condition and "estar" as a temporary condition. For example:
Ella está enferma ("está" from the verb "estar") she is sick (but she will recover).
Ella es enferma ("es" from "ser") she is sick (chronically).
Spanish has two forms of past, "perfective" and "imperfective". "Perfective" means that the action has limits (this should not be confused with "complete or finished actions"). And the "imperfective" past indicates that the action lasted for a certain period of time or it was a habitual action. For example:
Cuando yo era pequeño VISITÉ a mi padre (perfective) = when I was a kid I visited my father.
Cuando yo era pequeño VISITABA a mi padre (imperfective) = when I was a kid I used to visit my father.
Perfective past of "ser"
Yo fui
Tú fuiste
Él fue
Nosotros fuimos
Ustedes fueron
Ellos fueron
Imperfective past of "ser"
Yo era
Tú eras
Él era
Nosotros éramos
Ustedes eran
Ellos eran
Perfective past of "estar"
Yo estuve
Tú estuviste
Él estuvo
Nosotros estuvimos
Ustedes estuvieron
Ellos estuvieron
Imperfective past of "estar"
Yo estaba
Tú estabas
Él estaba
Nosotros estábamos
Ustedes estaban
Ellos estaban.
I hope this answers your question.
June 13, 2014
1
Hello Ren !
The translation depends on the context, because two verbs in Spanish can be translated as "was" in past time.
The verb "SER" ( to be ) and the verb "ESTAR". In English, the verb "to be" can be used to tell HOW something is (the condition = verb "ESTAR") and WHAT something is (the essence = verb "SER").
How is the apple? = Cómo está la manzana ?
It is unripe. = Está verde = In past time = WAS green = ESTABA verde.
What color is the apple? = De qué color es la manzana ?
It is green. = Es verde = In past time = WAS green = ERA verde.
In Spanish, a different verb is used to express "to be" depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.
To address condition, use ESTAR = is an irregular verb. It does not follow the standard rules of conjugation for regular verbs. Therefore, you must memorize it.
There are a few rules for deciding when to use SER or ESTAR in Spanish, if you need some grammar material about this subject, please tell me, and I can send it to you by mail.
Best wishes.
Sofía.
June 13, 2014
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Ren
Language Skills
English, Portuguese, Spanish
Learning Language
Portuguese, Spanish
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