to be (location, state)
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Estoy en la guagua, llego en diez minutos.
I'm on the bus; I'll be there in ten minutes.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Estuvimos en Varadero toda la semana.
We were in Varadero all week.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Mi abuela estaba en la cocina cuando llegamos.
My grandmother was in the kitchen when we arrived.
Futuro · What will happen
Estaré en casa después de las seis.
I'll be home after six.
Condicional · What would happen
Tus padres estarían orgullosos de ti.
Your parents would be proud of you.
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
¿Has estado alguna vez en Puerto Rico?
Have you ever been to Puerto Rico?
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Nunca habíamos estado tan cerca del mar.
We had never been so close to the sea.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Para las ocho, ya habrán estado dos horas en el aeropuerto.
By eight, they'll have been at the airport for two hours.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Habría estado allí si me hubieras avisado.
I would have been there if you had told me.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Ojalá esté abierta la farmacia.
I hope the pharmacy is open.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Me alegró mucho que estuvieras con nosotros.
I was very glad you were with us.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Quería que todos estuviesen listos a las siete.
I wanted everyone to be ready at seven.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Me preocupa que haya estado enfermo tanto tiempo.
It worries me that he has been sick for so long.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si hubiera estado allí, te habría ayudado.
If I had been there, I would have helped you.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Estén listos a las ocho, por favor.
Be ready at eight, please.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
No estés triste, todo va a salir bien.
Don't be sad, everything is going to be fine.