estar
to be (temporary)
📚 Learn when to use estar vs ser in our Ser vs Estar Grammar Guide
📚 Estar is used to form the Present Progressive Tense (estar + gerund)
Non-Conjugated Forms
estar
to be (temporary)
estando
Present Participle
estado
Used in perfect tenses
Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | estuve | estaba | estaré | estaría |
| tú | estás | estuviste | estabas | estarás | estarías |
| él/ella/usted | está | estuvo | estaba | estará | estaría |
| nosotros | estamos | estuvimos | estábamos | estaremos | estaríamos |
| vosotros | estáis | estuvisteis | estabais | estaréis | estaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | están | estuvieron | estaban | estarán | estarían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he estado | había estado | habré estado | habría estado |
| tú | has estado | habías estado | habrás estado | habrías estado |
| él/ella/usted | ha estado | había estado | habrá estado | habría estado |
| nosotros | hemos estado | habíamos estado | habremos estado | habríamos estado |
| vosotros | habéis estado | habíais estado | habréis estado | habríais estado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han estado | habían estado | habrán estado | habrían estado |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Subjunctive Mood
Used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, and hypothetical situations
The imperfect subjunctive has two forms: -ra (more common in speech) and -se (more literary, common in Spain). Both are equally correct and interchangeable.
| Person | Literary / Spain | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | esté | estuviera | estuviese |
| tú | estés | estuvieras | estuvieses |
| él/ella/usted | esté | estuviera | estuviese |
| nosotros | estemos | estuviéramos | estuviésemos |
| vosotros | estéis | estuvierais | estuvieseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | estén | estuvieran | estuviesen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Literary / Spain
Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | está |
| él/ella/usted | esté |
| nosotros | estemos |
| vosotros | estad |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | estén |
| Quick Test |
🎯 Practice estar
Test your knowledge of estar conjugations across multiple tenses
Irregular Verb
This is an irregular verb, so it doesn't follow the standard conjugation patterns. You'll need to memorise the irregular forms, especially in the present indicative and preterite.
Usage Tips
- Indicative: Use for facts, statements, and objective reality
- Subjunctive: Use after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, or uncertainty
- Imperative: Use for direct commands and requests
- Perfect Tenses: Use to express actions completed relative to another time
Examples and Common Phrases
Examples
Common Phrases
Verb Information
Category
Essential
Ending Type
-ar verb
Verb Type
Irregular verb
Importance Rank
#2 out of 100
Usage Tips
High Priority!
This is one of the top 10 most important Spanish verbs. Make sure to practice it regularly and memorise its conjugations.
Practice Suggestion
Try creating your own sentences with this verb. Start with simple present tense sentences and gradually work up to more complex constructions.