No. 99 in Spanish
estaba
"Estaba" is the imperfect past tense of "estar," meaning "I/he/she/it was" or "was being."
In a sentence
Estaba en la tienda cuando empezó a llover.
I was at the store when it started to rain.
The word 'estaba' is used here to indicate a non-specific past action or state, displaying the imperfection of the action of being at the store.
Ella estaba escribiendo una carta cuando llamaste.
She was writing a letter when you called.
The word 'estaba' here shows the ongoing past action, setting the background for another action that interrupts it (calling).
Pensaba que él estaba feliz con el resultado.
I thought he was happy with the result.
The word 'estaba' is describing a past continuous emotional state, specifying something that was felt as ongoing or true in the past.
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