Estar in Imperfect

The Pretérito Imperfeito sounds fancy but it is quite simple. It describes actions that were not finished in the past. It focuses on the duration of an event. It does not care exactly when the action started. It does not care exactly when it ended. Contrast this with the Pretérito Perfeito. That tense is like a quick snapshot of a finished act. The Imperfeito is more like a long video clip. When you use estava, you are looking inside the past. You are describing the atmosphere of a specific time. For example, 'I was tired' is a state. It did not happen in one second. It lasted for a period. This tense is perfect for 'I was doing something' too. You just add another verb after estar. It is the ultimate tool for storytelling and casual chat. Yes, even native speakers use this constantly every day.

1. 1Forming this tense is easier than ordering a pastel de nata. It follows a very regular pattern for estar. You just need to remember the specific endings. Follow these steps to conjugate like a pro:
2. 2Start with the verb stem est-.
3. 3Add the ending -ava for eu (I).
4. 4Add -avas for tu (you, informal).
5. 5Add -ava for você/ele/ela (you/he/she).
6. 6Add -ávamos for nós (we). Note the accent!
7. 7Add -avam for vocês/eles/elas (you all/they).
8. 8Here is a quick breakdown of the results:
9. 9eu estava (I was)
10. 10tu estavas (you were)
11. 11ele estava (he was)
12. 12nós estávamos (we were)
13. 13eles estavam (they were)
14. 14That accent on estávamos is super important. It makes the word sound energetic and correct. Don't skip it or you might sound a bit robotic. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener where to put the stress.

You will use estava in many real-world scenarios. First, use it for locations in the past. 'Yesterday, I was at the office.' It works perfectly for feelings and physical states too. 'She was very sick last week.' It is also great for describing the weather. 'It was very hot in Lisbon yesterday.' Another huge use is for continuous actions. This is the 'was doing' structure in English. 'We were talking about the project.' Use it when one action was happening. Then, another action interrupted it. 'I was sleeping when the phone rang.' It is perfect for job interviews to describe roles. 'I was responsible for the sales team.' Use it when asking for directions in the past. 'I was looking for the museum earlier.' It makes you sound more natural and fluent. It is the glue for your past conversations.

Don't use estava for quick, completed actions. If you arrived at 5:00 PM, use cheguei. That is a one-time event with a clear end. Don't use it for permanent characteristics either. For that, you need the verb ser. 'He was tall' uses era, not estava. Being tall is not a temporary state or location. Also, avoid it for specific, numbered instances. 'I was there three times' sounds better with estive. Estive focuses on the completed visits. Estava focuses on being there at a vague moment. If the action has a clear 'beginning to end' box, stop. Use the Pretérito Perfeito instead of the Imperfeito. Think of estava as a stretchy rubber band. If the action is a hard stone, use estive. This distinction is where many learners get a bit tripped. Take a breath and think about the duration.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the accent on estávamos. Without it, the rhythm of the sentence dies. Another classic error is using estava for permanent traits. Remember, estar is for states, not for who you are. Don't say eu estava inteligente for 'I was smart'. Say eu era inteligente instead. Another trap is confusing estava with estive. If you want to say 'I was in Brazil for a month', use estive. The one-month limit makes it a completed event. If you say estava no Brasil, people expect a story. They will wait for you to say what happened. 'I was in Brazil when I met her.' See the difference? One is a fact; one is a setting. Also, watch out for the spelling of estavam. Beginners often write estavão by mistake. The -ão ending is for the future tense. Always use -am for the past. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes in texts!

Let's compare estava with estive. Estive is like a closed door. The action is done and finished. Estava is like an open window. You are looking at the action while it happens. If you say eu estive doente, you are better now. The sickness is a finished chapter of your life. If you say eu estava doente, you are setting a scene. Maybe you couldn't go to the party because of it. Now, let's look at estava versus era. Use era for things that didn't change quickly. Use it for your childhood home or your personality. Use estava for things that fluctuate. Your mood, your location, and your temporary health. Imagine era is a statue and estava is a cloud. The statue stays, but the cloud moves and changes. Mastering this contrast will make you a B1 superstar. It shows you understand the soul of the language.