Uses of Ser and Estar - Usos de Ser y Estar
Beginning II
9.
Uses of Ser and Estar (English)
In
Spanish, there are two main verbs that express "to be": ser and estar. Each verb has specific
uses within the language and the uses cannot be interchanged. The
spelling of ser and estar changes
depending on the subject.
|
Ser |
Estar |
English |
|
Yo soy |
Yo estoy |
I
am |
|
Tú eres |
Tú estás |
you
are |
|
Él/ella/usted es |
Él/ella/usted está
|
He/she
is |
|
Ellos/ellas/ustedes son |
Ellos/ellas/ustedes están |
They
are |
|
Nosotros somos |
Nosotros estamos |
We
are |
This
lesson includes information on:
- Ser
- Estar
- Related
Vocabulary
1.
Ser
Ser
is used to express the inherent nature of a person or thing. Here are some
rules:
- To be + adjective expresses
essential characteristics of people or things (i.e., physical
descriptions).
|
Spanish |
English |
|
La
estudiante es bonita. |
The
student is pretty. |
|
El
profesor es viejo. |
The
professor is old. |
- To be + of/from expresses
possession, origin, or material. "Of/from" are translated
to "de" in Spanish.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Las pinturas son de
Maria. |
The
paintings are Maria’s. |
|
George
es de |
George
is from |
|
La mesa es de
madera. |
The
table is wood. |
- To be + for expresses
destination or the expiration date. "For" is translated to
"por" or "para" in Spanish.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
La tarea es para
mañana. |
The
homework is for tomorrow. |
- To be + noun or pronoun expresses
identity between the subject and the noun or pronoun, profession.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Ella
es una maestra. |
She
is a tutor. |
|
Es
un perro. |
It
is a dog. |
- To be + the existence of
temporary activities or events.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
La reunión es en
el café. |
The
meeting is at the cafe. |
- To be + the day, the date, the
time, and seasons.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Hoy
es lunes. |
Today
is Monday. |
|
Son las once y media. |
It
is 11:30. |
2.
Estar
Estar is used to express the temporary nature of a
person or thing. Here are some rules:
- To be + adjective expresses
changing conditions and appearance of people or things.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Las
maestras están enfermas. |
The
tutors are sick. |
|
La
estudiante está bonita. |
The
student is pretty right now. |
- To be + expresses the location of
people or things.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Mi hermano está
en la escuela. |
My
brother is in school. |
|
El avión está en
Guatemala. |
The
plane is in the |
- To be + adverb expresses the
temporary quality or state of an emotion or activity.
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Está bien |
Everything
is well. |
- Estar + para + infinitive is equivalent to
"to be about to".
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Estoy para salir. |
I
am about to go out. |
|
En este momento
está para llover. |
In
this moment it is about to rain. |
3.
Related Vocabulary
|
Spanish |
English |
|
Ser
|
To
be |
|
Yo soy |
I
am |
|
Tú eres |
You
are |
|
Usted es |
You
are (formal) |
|
Él es |
He
is |
|
Ella
es |
She
is |
|
Nosotros somos |
We
are |
|
Ustedes son |
You
are (plural) |
|
Ellos son |
They
are (male/collective) |
|
Ellas son |
They
are (female) |
|
Ser
bueno |
Good
character |
|
Ser
aburrido |
Boring |
|
Ser
callado |
Taciturn |
|
Ser
listo |
Smart |
|
Ser
interesado |
Selfish |
|
Ser
malo |
Bad |
|
Ser
preparado |
Cultivated |
|
Ser
vivo |
Alert |
|
Ser
nuevo |
Brand
new |
|
Ser
verde |
Green |
|
Estar |
To
be |
|
Yo estoy |
I
am |
|
Tú estás |
You
are (informal) |
|
Usted está |
You
are (formal) |
|
Él está |
He
is |
|
Ella
está |
She
is |
|
Nosotros estamos |
We
are |
|
Ustedes están |
You
are (plural) |
|
Ellos están |
They
are (male/collective) |
|
Ellas están |
They
are (female) |
|
Estar buena |
In
good health |
|
Estar aburrida |
Bored |
|
Estar callada |
Silent |
|
Estar lista |
Ready |
|
Estar interesada |
Interested |
|
Estar mala |
Sick |
|
Estar preparada
|
Prepared |
|
Estar viva |
Alive |
|
Estar nuevo |
Unused |
|
Estar verde |
Not
ripe |
|
Estar de acuerdo
|
To
be in agreement with |
|
Estar de buen/mal humor |
To
be in a good/bad mood |
|
Estar de moda |
To
be fashionable |
|
Estar de pie |
To
be on foot |
|
Estar de regreso
|
To
be coming back |
|
Estar de rodillas
|
To
be on one's knees |
|
Estar de vacaciones |
To
be on vacation |
|
Estar de viaje |
To
be on a trip/on vacation |
|
Estar seguro |
To
be sure |