Estar Conjugation Chart: Complete Guide to "To Be"
Nina Authried
3 min read
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"Estar" (to be) is everywhere in Spanish. But first, remember: Spanish has TWO "to be" verbs. "Ser" = permanent identity. "Estar" = temporary state or location. Here's how to conjugate "estar."
Present Tense (Presente)
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy | I am |
| Tú | estás | You are (informal) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | está | He/She/You (formal) are |
| Nosotros/as | estamos | We are |
| Vosotros/as | estáis | You (plural, Spain) are |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | están | They/You (plural) are |
Preterite (Pretérito)
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estuve | I was |
| Tú | estuviste | You were (informal) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estuvo | He/She/You were |
| Nosotros/as | estuvimos | We were |
| Vosotros/as | estuvisteis | You (plural, Spain) were |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estuvieron | They/You (plural) were |
Imperfect (Imperfecto)
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estaba | I was / I used to be |
| Tú | estabas | You were |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estaba | He/She/You were |
| Nosotros/as | estábamos | We were |
| Vosotros/as | estabais | You (plural, Spain) were |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estaban | They/You (plural) were |
Ser vs Estar: Quick Reminder
- Ser = permanent: identity, origin, time, characteristics (Soy médico. Es las tres.)
- Estar = temporary: location, state, feelings (Estoy en casa. Estoy cansado.)
Essential Expressions with Estar
- estar de acuerdo — to agree
- estar bien/mal — to be well/unwell
- estar listo — to be ready
- estar por + infinitive — to be about to (do something)
- estar en — to be at/in (location)
Practice Plan (10 Minutes)
- Say 5 sentences in present tense using estar (estoy, estás, está...).
- Use 3 expressions above in context.
- Practice ser vs estar with 5 examples.
Example: "Estoy en casa y estoy cansado. Estaba estudiando antes."
Common Mistakes
- Using ser for location: "Soy en casa" → Say "Estoy en casa"
- Using estar for identity: "Estoy médico" → Say "Soy médico"
- Mixing tenses: Preterite (estuve) = completed action; Imperfect (estaba) = ongoing past
Make It Natural
The best way to master "estar" isn't memorizing charts—it's using it in real conversations. Practice daily, get instant corrections, and watch these forms become automatic. Try Parlai and use "estar" in context while chatting about your day.
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