I am battling to answer the review cards when it comes to the use of fui and or estive when referring to a past event. What is the underlying difference with 3 options, to go; to be and been? I see this was touched on but has not quite answered my dilema.
@mdefotophile, fui is a past tense form for both ser (to be) and ir (to go). The two verbs just happen to be conjugated similarly in the past tenses, but the meaning in each case is specific (I was or I went). Estive is only a past tense form of the verb estar (to be).
So, whenever you see I went, it’s easy: it can only be eu fui. For the verb to be, whatever applies in the present tense to distinguish between ser and estar should generally also apply to the past tense. We have a few Learning Notes dedicated to the uses of each verb:
- Ser vs. Estar: Two Ways of Being | Practice Portuguese
- When to Use Estar | Practice Portuguese
- When to Use Ser | Practice Portuguese
If you’d like, feel free to share any specific examples that confuse you.