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Can somebody please tell me how these sentences change meaning when using preterite vs. imperfect? And maybe give some example sentences that illustrate the difference?? It is very hard, this concept, for a native English speaker.
Yo estaba en escuela
yo estuve en escuela
ella estaba en colorado
ella estuvo en colorado
yo estaba corriendo
yo estuve corriendo
There is a pretty simple thing to remember this:
Estaba is used somewhat like the Past Progressive in English.
"Estaba en la calle cuando me llamaron."
Means that at this time, when I have been called, I was on the Street / outside. The call interrupted that action, but it later continued. An action could be finished, but that´s not necessarily the case.
Estuve however indicates something that has indeed terminated. Pretty much like the past tense in English.
Yo estaba en la escuela = I was in the school
Yo estuve en la escuela = I was in the school
ella estaba en colorado = She was in Colorado
ella estuvo en colorado = She was in Colorado
yo estaba corriendo = I was running
yo estuve corriendo = I was running.
There is another set of sentences that could help you better express different times like these:
Yo he estado en la escuela = I've been in the school
Ella ha estado en Colorado = She has been in Colorado.
Yo he estado corriendo = I've been running.
The difference between Estaba y Estuve is very subtle. Both are past but Estaba usually means that the action has finished and with Estuve the action could still be incomplete.
The problem with this debate (here and in linguistics) is that we are discussing phrases that nobody would say. They may seem grammatically correct, but they are unacceptable and unnatural without extra elements in the sentence or a clear context. This is not just a matter of "use" but a semantic issue. Some of the sentences above NEED more elements to be correct and there is a reason for that.
To the natives here: would you say "Ayer, yo estaba en la escuela" without anybody asking you where you were (because that person was wondering where you had been all this time) or without you explaining in relation to what you are talking about (Yo estaba en la escuela cuando...)? "Ayer yo estuve en la escuela", on the other hand, may be said just like that, in a diary, for instance.
The example sentences in the question follow a mathematical formula that does not belong in natural languages. They are stripping the sentences of all what makes them sentences from Spanish. @PonyVilla, this topic is related to aspect. In English it is there and you have it at a semantic level (although not grammatical level), so may be you can read more on the topic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_aspect It is a bit complex at the beginning, but once you understand this, it is going to change your life because aspect is everywhere in Spanish! :)
I agree partly with DGaleano, who said that "Estar es uno de los verbos mas complicados en todos los idiomas." In English, "estar" (to be) it is pretty straightforward, but English speakers (my American students are a good example) have problems distinguishing "ser" and "estar." Here are the differences, explained with two acronyms: SER (TO BE)
General rule Ser is used to classify and identify permanent or lasting attributes. This acronym will help you remember the rule: DOCTOR (Description, Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin, and Relationship).
1) Description. Describe him or her
YO SOY ALTA
YO SOY HOMBRE
2) Occupation or profession
YO SOY ESTUDIANTE
ELLA ES ARTISTA.
The indefinite articles un, una, unos and unas are omitted when describing an occupation after the verb ser
3) Characteristic. Define the essential qualities of a person.
ELLA ES INTELIGENTE
4) Origin. Describes the place a person is from or the material something is made from
SOY DE NUEVA JERSEY
LA MESA ES DE MADERA
5) Time. Includes days, dates, and hours. For hours, use es for 1 o´clock and son for all other hours
ES LA 1 PM Y HOY ES MIÉRCOLES
6) Relationship.
LUISA ES MI MADRE, MARCOS ES MI AMIGO
Even after someone dies or someone breaks up, relationships are described using ser. Religion are also described using ser since a religion is considered a relationship with a higher power. Relationships are a form of identity.
ESTAR (TO BE) General rule
Estar is used mainly to indicate temporary situations or conditions and locations. This acronym will help you remember the rule: PLACE (Position, Location, Action, Condition, and Emotion).
1) Position. Describes the place or posture a person or thing is in.
EL ESTÁ SENTADO
2) Location. Describes where someone or something is permanently, temporarily, actually, or conceptually
YO ESTOY EN LA CIUDAD, LA CLASE ESTÁ ALLÁ
3) Action. Describes an ongoing action and uses the present progressive tense. In Spanish, death is an ongoing action, not a permanent state
NOSOTROS ESTAMOS ESTUDIANDO, MI ABUELO ESTÁ MUERTO
4) Condition. The state of an object
EL COMPUTADOR ESTÁ DAÑADO
5) Emotion or feeling. How a person is feeling at a certain moment, physically or emotionally
YO ESTOY FELIZ, ELLAS ESTÁN CANSADAS, ÉL ESTÁ SENTADO
