Introduction
If you have worked through estaba (I was), estabas (you were), estaba (he/she/it was), estábamos (we were), and estabais (you all were in Spain), the final form is estaban — and it completes your ability to talk about temporary states in the past for any person or group. Estaban means they were or you all were (in Latin America with ustedes), and like all the other imperfect estar forms, it focuses on temporary, changeable states rather than permanent traits or completed actions.
While eran (imperfect of ser) describes ongoing characteristics or identities for ellos/ustedes, estaban (imperfect of estar) is for temporary states, feelings, or locations that continued over time for others. Think of estaban as describing how they felt, where they were, or how they were during a period, not who they permanently were.
No long grammar tables. Just 15 real sentences, each with a simple explanation of why estaban is the right word.
Quick Reminder: Ser vs Estar in the Imperfect for Ellos/Ustedes
Use estaban (imperfect of estar, ellos/ustedes form) for:
- Temporary emotional states of a group — how others felt over a period
- Physical conditions of a group — temporary states of being for others
- Group location — where a group was during a period
- Ongoing actions of a group — what a group was doing (with present participle)
Use eran (imperfect of ser) for permanent traits, identities, or descriptions of the group. Estaban is for the temporary, the changeable, the situational.
The 15 Examples
Example 1
Ellos estaban muy cansados después del viaje.
They were very tired after the trip.
Why estaban? Tiredness is a temporary state. Estaban describes how the group felt over a period, not a permanent characteristic.
Example 2
Estaban en casa cuando llegó la noticia.
They were at home when the news arrived.
Why estaban? This describes the group's location at a specific time. Estaban is the natural choice for talking about where a group was in the past.
Example 3
Los niños estaban enfermos la semana pasada.
The children were sick last week.
Why estaban? Being sick is a temporary condition. Estaban captures that the group was in that state for a period, but it passed.
Example 4
Ellas estaban muy felices con el resultado.
They were very happy with the result.
Why estaban? Happiness here is a temporary emotional state. Estaban describes that feeling the group shared over a period.
Example 5
Estaban en el parque comiendo helado.
They were in the park eating ice cream.
Why estaban? This describes both the group's location and what they were doing. Estaban + present participle is perfect for ongoing group actions in the past.
Example 6
Estaban preocupados por el examen.
They were worried about the exam.
Why estaban? Worry is a temporary emotional state. Estaban describes how the group felt together during that specific period.
Example 7
Estaban en la reunión hasta las 8.
They were in the meeting until 8.
Why estaban? This describes the group's presence at a location for a defined period. Estaban is perfect for these time-bound group location descriptions.
Example 8
Estaban muy ocupados con el proyecto.
They were very busy with the project.
Why estaban? Being busy is a temporary state. Estaban captures that the group was in that condition together for a specific period.
Example 9
Estaban deprimidos después de la derrota.
They were depressed after the defeat.
Why estaban? Emotional states like depression in this context are temporary reactions to events. Estaban describes that shared period of feeling.
Example 10
Estaban en Madrid por turismo.
They were in Madrid for tourism.
Why estaban? This describes the group's location for a specific purpose and period. Estaban is the natural choice for past group locations.
Example 11
Estaban muy sorprendidos con el resultado.
They were very surprised by the result.
Why estaban? Surprise is a temporary emotional reaction. Estaban captures that shared moment of being surprised.
Example 12
Estaban en el cine viendo una película.
They were at the cinema watching a movie.
Why estaban? This describes both the group's location and what they were doing. Estaban works perfectly for these combined descriptions.
Example 13
Estaban muy nerviosos antes de la presentación.
They were very nervous before the presentation.
Why estaban? Nervousness in this context is a temporary state leading up to an event. Estaban describes that shared feeling.
Example 14
Estaban en el hospital visitando a su amigo.
They were at the hospital visiting their friend.
Why estaban? This describes both location and purpose. Estaban captures both aspects perfectly for the group.
Example 15
Estaban de acuerdo con la decisión.
They were in agreement with the decision.
Why estaban? Being in agreement is a temporary stance on a specific issue. Estaban describes that shared position at that moment.
The Pattern to Remember
Looking across all 15 examples, you will notice estaban covers four main situations for ellos/ustedes:
- Shared temporary emotional states — tired, happy, worried, depressed, surprised, nervous
- Collective physical conditions — sick, busy
- Group locations — at home, in the park, in the meeting, in Madrid, at the cinema, at the hospital
- Ongoing group actions — eating ice cream, watching a movie, visiting their friend
All share the same characteristic: they are temporary, changeable states or conditions experienced by the group. If you can ask "How were they/you all?" or "Where were they/you all?" then estaban is likely the right choice.
Ser vs Estar in the Imperfect for Ellos/Ustedes: The Simple Rule
Think of it this way for groups:
- Eran (imperfect of ser) = Who they/you all were → Eran un gran equipo (They/You all were a great team - identity/characteristic)
- Estaban (imperfect of estar) = How they/you all were/where they/you all were → Estaban cansados (They/You all were tired - temporary condition) / Estaban en casa (They/You all were at home - location)
For most beginning learners, this distinction covers the majority of cases. When in doubt, ask: Is this a permanent trait or identity of the group (ser) or a temporary state/location (estar)?
Regional Note
Remember that estaban is used for both:
- Ellos/Ellas (they) — in all Spanish-speaking regions
- Ustedes (you all) — in Latin America and formal contexts in Spain
In Spain, for informal groups, you would use estabais with vosotros. In Latin America, estaban with ustedes is the standard for both formal and informal groups.
What Comes Next
You have now completed all six forms of the imperfect of estar: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban.
Combined with both tenses of ser (preterite: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron and imperfect: era, eras, era, éramos, erais, eran), you now have a complete toolkit for describing the past in Spanish.
The next step is to practice using them in conversation, mixing preterite and imperfect appropriately to tell stories and describe past experiences with both ser and estar.
You have the complete picture. Now it is time to use them.