What's the difference between "ser" and "estar" in the past tense?

In Spanish, both "ser" and "estar" are used in the past tense, but they have distinct meanings and are used in different contexts: Past Tense of "Ser" (Preterite and Imperfect): Preterite (Pretérito Perfecto Simple): "Ser" is used in the preterite tense to describe actions or events that are viewed as completed or isolated events in the past. It is often used for actions that happened at a specific point in time. For example: Fui a la fiesta ayer. (I went to the party yesterday.) Ella fue una gran actriz. (She was a great actress.) Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfecto): "Ser" is used in the imperfect tense to describe ongoing or habitual characteristics or conditions in the past. It is used to provide background information or set the scene. For example: Cuando era niño, me gustaba dibujar. (When I was a child, I liked to draw.) Esa casa era muy grande. (That house was very big.) Past Tense of "Estar" (Preterite and Imperfect): Preterite (Pretérito Perfecto Simple): "Estar" is used in the preterite tense to indicate a specific or completed action or state of being that occurred in the past. For example: Estuve enfermo la semana pasada. (I was sick last week.) Estuviste en Madrid el mes pasado. (You were in Madrid last month.) Imperfect (Pretérito Imperfecto): "Estar" is used in the imperfect tense to describe a continuous or ongoing state or condition in the past. It is often used for setting the scene or providing background information. For example: Estábamos cansados después de un largo viaje. (We were tired after a long trip.) Ella estaba feliz en su cumpleaños. (She was happy on her birthday.) In summary, "ser" is typically used to describe inherent or permanent characteristics in the past (imperfect) or specific events and actions in the past (preterite). "Estar," on the other hand, is used to describe temporary or ongoing conditions or states in the past (imperfect) and specific actions or states in the past (preterite). Understanding the nuances of when to use "ser" and "estar" in the past tense is essential for conveying the correct meaning in your Spanish sentences. read less