Understanding the difference between fui and iba is one of the most common challenges for Spanish learners. Both words come from the verb ir (to go), but they are used in different tenses and express different ideas. Knowing when to use each will help you sound more natural and accurate when talking about the past in Spanish.

In this article, we will explore the difference between fui and iba in Spanish, provide clear guidelines, and include helpful example sentences with English translations.

Difference between Fui and Iba

The difference between fui and iba lies in how the speaker views the past action:

FuiIba
TensePreteriteImperfect
MeaningI wentI was going
I used to go
ActionCompleted, specificOngoing, repeated, habitual
FocusWhole actionProcess or background

Fui is the first-person singular (yo) form of ir in the preterite tense. Please note that it is also the first-person singular (yo) form of ser in the preterite tense. However, iba is the first-person and third-person singular form (yo, él or ella) in the imperfect tense of ir in the imperfect tense.

  • Preterite: Use fui when the event is finished and clearly defined in time.
  • Imperfect: Use iba when the event is incomplete, repeated, or in progress.

Fui a su casa ayer.

I went to his house yesterday. (one completed event)

Iba a su casa todos los días.

I used to go to his house every day. (repeated action)

Understanding this fundamental difference between fui and iba in Spanish is key to choosing the correct form.

When to Use Fui

Use fui when referring to an action or state that was completed in the past. The preterite tense is used to talk about actions that are completed, specific, and finished in the past. When you use fui, you’re describing something that happened once, or something that is seen as a complete event.

Ayer fui al cine con mis amigos y vimos una película muy divertida.

Yesterday I went to the cinema with my friends and we watched a very funny movie.

Fui a Toledo el verano pasado y pasé dos días explorando la ciudad.

I went to Toledo last summer and spent two days exploring the city.

In both examples, the speaker completed the action of going somewhere. The time frame is clear and finished.

When to Use Iba

Use iba when referring to an action or state that was ongoing or repeated in the past. The imperfect tense is used for repeated, ongoing, or habitual actions in the past. It can also describe background actions or situations.

Cuando era niño, iba al parque todos los domingos con mi familia.

When I was a child, I used to go to the park every Sunday with my family.

Iba al supermercado cuando empezó a llover muy fuerte.

I was going to the supermarket when it started raining heavily.

In the first sentence, iba expresses a repeated action that happened many times in the past. In the second one, iba describes an action that was in progress when another event interrupted it.

Context Changes the Meaning

Sometimes, both fui and iba can appear in the same sentence, but their meanings differ completely.

Iba a ir al cine, pero al final fui al teatro.

I was going to go to the cinema, but in the end I went to the theatre.

  • Here, iba a ir expresses an intention or plan that didn’t happen, while fui shows what actually happened.

Iba a visitar a mis abuelos el sábado, pero al final fui al médico porque me sentía mal.

I was going to visit my grandparents on Saturday, but I ended up going to the doctor because I felt unwell.

  • Here, iba a visitar expresses an intention that was not carried out because another event changed the plan, while fui indicates what actually happened.

Exercises

Understanding the difference between fui and iba helps you choose the right tense based on what you want to emphasize: the completion of an event (fui) or the continuity or repetition of it (iba). Now let’s do some exercises to practice these tenses.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Categorized in:

GrammarPretérito ImperfectoPretérito Indefinido