Past States: Was being / Used to be (Estar Imperfect)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'estava' to describe ongoing states or repeated conditions in the past, rather than single completed actions.
- Use for ongoing states: 'Eu estava cansado' (I was tired).
- Use for repeated past habits: 'Nós estávamos sempre felizes' (We were always happy).
- Use to set the scene: 'Estava chovendo quando cheguei' (It was raining when I arrived).
Overview
When narrating past events in Portuguese, the Pretérito Imperfeito (Imperfect Past) of Estar (to be – temporary) is crucial. Unlike the Pretérito Perfeito (Preterite), which focuses on completed actions, Estar Imperfect describes ongoing states, continuous actions, or conditions that were present in the past. It sets the scene, providing background information like how things were, what was happening, or where someone was located.
This tense is the linguistic equivalent of "was being" or "used to be" for temporary situations, conveying the continuous aspect and necessary nuance for B1-level storytelling. It allows you to paint a picture of the past without defining precise beginnings or ends for the states it describes.
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Conjugation (Brazil & Portugal) | English Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------ | ||
| Eu | estava |
I was / I used to be | ||
| Tu | estavas |
You were / You used to be | ||
| Você | estava |
You were / You used to be | ||
| Ele/Ela | estava |
He/She/It was / He/She/It used to be | ||
| Nós | estávamos |
We were / We used to be | ||
| Vocês | estavam |
You all were / You all used to be | ||
| Eles/Elas | estavam |
They were / They used to be |
How This Grammar Works
Eu estava em Paris (I was in Paris) describes an ongoing state of being there, setting the context, unlike Eu estive em Paris (I was in Paris – implying a completed visit). It's the tool for conveying background: A música estava alta na festa (The music was loud at the party), indicating a continuous state, or Ele estava feliz (He was happy), describing an ongoing feeling.Formation Pattern
-ar verbs, including Estar, follows a straightforward pattern: combine the verb stem with characteristic Imperfect endings. For Estar, the stem is est-.
est-
-ar verbs:
Eu: -ava
Tu: -avas
Você/Ele/Ela: -ava
Nós: -ávamos
Vocês/Eles/Elas: -avam
eu estava, tu estavas, ele estava, nós estávamos, eles estavam. The crucial acute accent (´) on the a in nós estávamos is essential for correct pronunciation (es-TÁ-va-mos). This pattern applies to all regular -ar verbs like falar (falava) and trabalhar (trabalhava), making Estar predictable within this group.
When To Use It
Estar is used in several key scenarios to provide context, describe continuous states, or set the scene in past narratives.- 1Describing Ongoing States, Conditions, or Emotions: Use
EstarImperfect to talk about how someone or somethingwasfor an unspecified period in the past. This emphasizes the temporary nature of the state, condition, or emotion.
Eu estava cansado depois do trabalho.(I was tired after work.)Ela estava muito feliz quando recebeu a notícia.(She was very happy when she received the news.)
- 1Indicating Location in the Past (Temporary Presence): Use
EstarImperfect to specify where someone or somethingwas locatedtemporarily in the past, crucial for setting scenes.
Nós estávamos na praia durante as férias.(We were at the beach during the holidays.)O meu carro estava estacionado perto do parque.(My car was parked near the park.)
- 1Forming the Past Progressive (
was/were -ing): CombineEstar(Imperfect) with a gerund (Brazilian Portuguese) ora+ infinitive (European Portuguese) to express an actionin progressin the past. This is vital for interrupted actions or simultaneous ongoing activities.
- Brazilian Portuguese:
estava+ gerund (-ndo) Eu estava trabalhando quando o telefone tocou.(I was working when the phone rang.)- European Portuguese:
estava+ a + infinitive Eu estava a trabalhar quando o telefone tocou.(I was working when the phone rang.)
- 1Describing Habitual Actions or Conditions (
used to be): Whilecostumarexplicitly means "used to,"EstarImperfect can imply habitual states or recurring conditions within a past period, especially with adverbs likesempre.
Ela estava sempre sorridente naquela época.(She was always smiling at that time.)Quando eu era criança, eu estava sempre doente no inverno.(When I was a child, I was always sick in the winter.)
- 1Setting the Scene for Another Past Event: The Imperfect provides background, atmosphere, or conditions existing when a main event (often in the Preterite) occurred.
Estava chovendo forte quando saímos.(It was raining heavily when we left.)As crianças estavam a brincar no jardim enquanto os pais conversavam.(The children were playing in the garden while the parents talked.)
Common Mistakes
Estar Imperfect from other past tenses and related verbs.- 1Confusing
EstarImperfect (estava) withSerImperfect (era): This is the most common error. Remember:Estaris for temporary states/conditions;Seris for permanent characteristics/identities. Usingerafor a temporary state fundamentally alters the meaning.
- ❌
A comida era quente.(Implies the food's inherent quality was "hot.") - ✅
A comida estava quente.(Describes the temporary condition of the food's temperature.) - ❌
Ele era cansado.(Suggests "tiredness" is a permanent trait.) - ✅
Ele estava cansado.(Conveys a temporary feeling of fatigue.)
- 1Forgetting the Accent on
Nós estávamos: The acute accent (´) on theainestávamosis phonetically crucial. Omitting it shifts the word's stress, making it sound incorrect (es-TÁ-va-mos vs. es-ta-VÁ-mos). This common phonetic trap can hinder clear communication.
- 1Overusing
EstarImperfect for Completed Actions: The Imperfect describes duration or ongoing states, not single, completed actions. Usingestavawhereestive(Preterite ofEstar) is required indicates a misunderstanding of aspect.
- ❌
Eu estava em casa ontem à noite.(If simply stating a completed presence,Eu estive em casa ontem à noiteis often more idiomatic.) - ✅
Eu estava em casa quando o telefone tocou.(Correctly sets the background for the phone call, an ongoing state interrupted by a completed action.)
- 1Incorrect
TuConjugation in Brazil: In much of Brazil,vocêis used with theele/elaconjugation (você estava), even informally. Learners attemptingtumight incorrectly pairtuwithestava. If learning Brazilian Portuguese, stick tovocê estavaunless in a region explicitly usingtu estavas.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Estar Imperfect from other past constructions is key for nuanced expression.- 1
EstarImperfect (estava) vs.EstarPreterite (estive): The Imperfect emphasizes the ongoing nature, duration, or habitual occurrence of a past state, without a defined end. The Preterite marks a completed action or state with a definite beginning and end, often seen as a single point in time.
Eu estava doente por uma semana.(Ongoing state throughout the week.)Eu estive doente na semana passada.(Completed period of illness.)Estava a ler um livro quando adormeci.(Ongoing background action.)Estive em Portugal no ano passado.(Completed visit.)
- 1
EstarImperfect (estava) vs.FicarImperfect (ficava): Both can relate to location or states.Ficaroften implies a more permanent or established location, or the result of a change (ficar= to become).Estarconsistently refers to temporary location or condition.
A livraria ficava no centro da cidade.(Fixed, established location of the bookstore.)Eu estava na livraria ontem.(Temporary presence at the bookstore.)Ele ficava aborrecido com a situação.(He would become/used to get annoyed.)Ele estava aborrecido com a situação.(He was annoyed – temporary emotional state.)
- 1
EstarImperfect (for background/ongoing) vs.CostumarImperfect (for habitual actions): WhileEstarImperfect can imply habit with adverbs likesempre,costumarin the Imperfect (costumava) is the dedicated verb for expressing habitual actions or routines in the past, directly translating to "used to."
Quando era criança, estava sempre a brincar lá fora.(Ongoing, repeated action.)Quando era criança, costumava brincar lá fora.(Explicitly denotes a past habit.)
Estar) or the regularity of the activity (Costumar).Real Conversations
Estar in the Imperfect is central to everyday Portuguese, from casual anecdotes to more formal discussions. Its role in setting the scene and conveying ongoing past actions is vital.
- Casual Storytelling: Eu tava na fila do banco, e o cara da frente estava discutindo com a caixa. (I was in the bank queue, and the guy in front was arguing with the teller.) – Tava is the common informal contraction of estava, especially in Brazil, demonstrating its prevalence in spoken and texted language. Both instances set continuous background.
- Expressing past feelings/conditions: Como é que estava o tempo? Estava ótimo! (How was the weather? It was great!) or Como você estava se sentindo? Eu estava um pouco cansado. (How were you feeling? I was a bit tired.)
- Describing past locations: Onde vocês estavam no sábado? Nós estávamos a visitar a minha avó. (Where were you on Saturday? We were visiting my grandmother.) This highlights a temporary activity at a specific location.
- Texting/Messaging: Tava a pensar em ti hoje. (I was thinking about you today.) – The contracted 'tava is common in quick messages, adding informality.
- Professional Context: A equipe estava a trabalhar no projeto principal quando o prazo foi alterado. (The team was working on the main project when the deadline was changed.) Here, estava a trabalhar provides the background of their ongoing work.
Progressive Practice
The Past Progressive construction with Estar Imperfect is fundamental for actions in progress at a particular past moment, often when another event occurred. This is also known as Pretérito Imperfeito Contínuo.
Brazilian Portuguese: Estar (Imperfect) + Gerund (-ndo)
- Eu estava assistindo TV quando você ligou. (I was watching TV when you called.)
- As crianças estavam brincando no parque quando começou a chover. (The children were playing in the park when it started to rain.)
European Portuguese: Estar (Imperfect) + a + Infinitive
- Eu estava a assistir televisão quando tu ligaste. (I was watching TV when you called.)
- As crianças estavam a brincar no parque quando começou a chover. (The children were playing in the park when it started to rain.)
This construction is crucial for illustrating interrupted actions: an ongoing activity (Imperfect Progressive) broken by a sudden, completed event (Preterite). For example, Eu estava a dormir quando a campainha tocou. (I was sleeping when the doorbell rang.) The sleeping was continuous; the ringing was a punctual interruption. Mastering this structure is vital for dynamic storytelling.
Quick FAQ
Estar Imperfect be used for permanent locations, like where a city is?No. Estar Imperfect is for temporary locations (Onde estava o meu livro? – Where was my book?). For permanent locations, use Ficar or Ser (Lisboa fica em Portugal – Lisbon is located in Portugal).
'tava an acceptable substitute for estava in all contexts?'Tava (and its forms like 'tamos, 'tavam) is very common in informal speech and texts. However, it should be avoided in formal writing, academic papers, or professional communications. It's a hallmark of colloquial speech.
Estar Imperfect always refer to actions happening at a specific moment in the past?Not always. While common for describing what was happening at a specific moment, it also describes general states, conditions, or habits that existed over an unspecified period. For instance, Naquele verão, eu estava muito feliz (That summer, I was very happy) describes a general state throughout the season.
Eu estava and Eu tinha estado?Eu estava is the Imperfect tense, describing a past state or ongoing action. Eu tinha estado (Past Perfect Compound) indicates an action completed before another past action. For example, Eu tinha estado em casa antes de sair (I had been home before leaving). It sequences past events, whereas eu estava describes a single, continuous past state or action.
Estar Imperfect be used to express politeness for past desires?No. Its role is solely descriptive of past states, conditions, or ongoing actions. The ability to use the Imperfect for polite requests (e.g., Eu queria um café) is specific to verbs like querer, poder, and dever.
Conjugation of Estar (Imperfect)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
|
Eu
|
estava
|
|
Você/Ele/Ela
|
estava
|
|
Nós
|
estávamos
|
|
Vocês/Eles/Elas
|
estavam
|
Meanings
The imperfect tense of 'estar' describes states, locations, or conditions that were ongoing or habitual in the past.
Ongoing State
Describing a condition that persisted over a period of time.
“Ela estava triste.”
“Nós estávamos animados.”
Background Setting
Setting the scene for another action.
“Estava sol quando saí.”
“Eu estava lendo quando você ligou.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + estava + Adj
|
Eu estava cansado.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + não + estava + Adj
|
Eu não estava cansado.
|
|
Question
|
Estava + Subj + Adj?
|
Você estava cansado?
|
|
Plural
|
Eles + estavam + Adj
|
Eles estavam cansados.
|
|
Nós
|
Nós + estávamos + Adj
|
Nós estávamos cansados.
|
Formality Spectrum
Eu estava no escritório. (Work)
Eu estava no escritório. (Work)
Eu tava no escritório. (Work)
Tava lá no trampo. (Work)
Uses of Estava
States
- Cansado Tired
- Feliz Happy
Locations
- Em casa At home
- No trabalho At work
Examples by Level
Eu estava cansado.
I was tired.
Ela estava em casa.
She was at home.
Nós estávamos felizes.
We were happy.
Eles estavam lá.
They were there.
Você estava dormindo?
Were you sleeping?
O tempo estava bom.
The weather was good.
Eu não estava com fome.
I wasn't hungry.
Vocês estavam prontos?
Were you ready?
Eu estava lendo quando você chegou.
I was reading when you arrived.
A loja estava fechada.
The shop was closed.
Nós estávamos sempre juntos.
We were always together.
O carro estava quebrado.
The car was broken.
Eu estava pensando em viajar.
I was thinking about traveling.
Ela estava sendo muito gentil.
She was being very kind.
O ambiente estava tenso.
The atmosphere was tense.
Eles estavam esperando há horas.
They had been waiting for hours.
Estava claro que ele não sabia.
It was clear he didn't know.
Eu estava prestes a sair.
I was about to leave.
Tudo estava como eu deixei.
Everything was as I left it.
Estávamos cientes do risco.
We were aware of the risk.
O cenário estava montado para o desastre.
The scene was set for disaster.
Estava eu lá, pensando na vida.
There I was, thinking about life.
A situação estava longe de ser ideal.
The situation was far from ideal.
Estávamos, por assim dizer, perdidos.
We were, so to speak, lost.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'was', but have different aspectual meanings.
Common Mistakes
Eu estive cansado todo dia.
Eu estava cansado todo dia.
Nós estavamos lá.
Nós estávamos lá.
Eu estava em casa às 5.
Eu estive em casa às 5.
Ele estava sendo um idiota ontem.
Ele foi um idiota ontem.
Sentence Patterns
Eu estava ___ quando ___.
Real World Usage
Tava te esperando!
The 'Tava' Shortcut
Don't Forget the Accent!
The Politeness Trap
Smart Tips
Use 'estava' to show how you felt over a period.
Pronunciation
Tava vs Estava
In informal speech, the 'es-' is often dropped.
Statement
Eu estava cansado. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Estava' as a 'Steady' state in the past.
Visual Association
Imagine a slow-motion video of yourself in the past. Everything in that slow-motion frame uses 'estava'.
Rhyme
When the past was slow and long, 'estava' is where you belong.
Story
Yesterday, I was walking. It was sunny. I was happy. All these background states use 'estava'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about how you felt yesterday using 'estava'.
Cultural Notes
Dropping the 'es' is extremely common in daily speech.
From Latin 'stare'.
Conversation Starters
Como você estava ontem?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu ___ (estar) feliz.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercisesEu ___ (estar) feliz.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
12 exercisesDesculpa, eu não ___ ouvindo. (I wasn't listening)
Nós ___ assistindo Netflix.
How do you say 'The coffee was cold'?
Tu estava em casa?
Match correctly:
estava / O / fechado / banco
She was sad.
When would you use 'Eu estava em Paris'?
Ele ___ brincando. (He was joking)
Nós estavamos perdidos.
Which sentence implies the event is fully over and done?
Nós ___ trabalhando.
Score: /12
FAQ (1)
No, only for ongoing states.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
estaba
None.
j'étais
French doesn't distinguish estar/ser.
war
German has no aspectual distinction.
ita
No aspectual distinction.
kuntu
Complex aspectual system.
zai
No conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
The Verb ESTAR: Temporary 'To Be' (estou, está)
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Past Habits & Storytelling: The Imperfect Tense (-ar verbs)
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