Estuve | Notion

Chart: All About "Estuve" in Spanish

"Estuve" is the first-person singular form of the verb "estar" in the preterite tense. It is used to describe temporary states or conditions, actions that occurred in the past, or specific moments in time.

Category	Explanation	Example Sentence in Spanish	English Translation
Location	Used to indicate where someone or something was temporarily.	Estuve en la oficina toda la mañana.	I was at the office all morning.
Temporary State	Describes a temporary physical or mental condition in the past.	Estuve cansado después del trabajo.	I was tired after work.
Emotions	Expresses how someone felt at a particular moment in the past.	Estuve feliz durante la fiesta.	I was happy during the party.
Physical Condition	Describes a temporary physical state or health condition in the past.	Estuve enfermo la semana pasada.	I was sick last week.
Ongoing Actions (Completed)	Used with the gerund to describe actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.	Estuve estudiando toda la noche.	I was studying all night.
Temporary Situations	Describes situations or conditions that occurred in the past and were temporary.	Estuve de viaje por una semana.	I was traveling for a week.
Weather (Past)	Describes how the weather was during a specific moment in the past.	Estuve bajo la lluvia todo el día.	I was in the rain all day.
Relationships (Temporary, Past)	Describes temporary involvement in relationships or situations in the past.	Estuve con mi familia durante las vacaciones.	I was with my family during the holidays.

Detailed Explanation of Uses:

Location:
- Explanation: "Estuve" indicates a temporary location where someone was in the past.
- Example: Estuve en casa todo el fin de semana. (I was at home all weekend.)
Temporary State:
- Explanation: Describes a temporary state, such as being tired, sick, or upset in the past.
- Example: Estuve muy nervioso antes de la presentación. (I was very nervous before the presentation.)
Emotions:
- Explanation: Expresses emotions or feelings at a particular time in the past.
- Example: Estuve emocionado cuando te vi. (I was excited when I saw you.)
Physical Condition:
- Explanation: Refers to physical conditions that were true at a certain moment in the past.
- Example: Estuve resfriado la semana pasada. (I had a cold last week.)
Ongoing Actions (Completed):
- Explanation: "Estuve" with a gerund describes actions that were ongoing at a specific moment in the past but are now completed.
- Example: Estuve leyendo un libro cuando me llamaste. (I was reading a book when you called me.)
Temporary Situations:
- Explanation: Used to describe temporary situations or conditions that occurred in the past.
- Example: Estuve ocupado todo el día. (I was busy all day.)
Weather (Past):
- Explanation: Used to describe how the weather was at a particular time in the past.
- Example: Estuve bajo el sol toda la tarde. (I was under the sun all afternoon.)
Relationships (Temporary, Past):
- Explanation: Describes temporary situations or involvement in relationships during a specific time in the past.
- Example: Estuve con mis amigos todo el fin de semana. (I was with my friends all weekend.)

Additional Notes:

"Estuve" vs. "Estaba": While both refer to past actions or states, "estuve" (preterite) emphasizes that the state or action was completed, while "estaba" (imperfect) is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
Common Mistake: Avoid using "estuve" for permanent conditions or identity; "ser" would be appropriate in those cases (e.g., Yo fui instead of Yo estuve when discussing identity or profession).

Understanding "estuve" is crucial for discussing past actions and conditions accurately in Spanish, especially when emphasizing the completion or temporariness of an event or state.