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The Spanish Verbs Ser and Estar

Exercises with Ser and Estar

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The verb ser (example sentences) (full conjugation) is used to indicate an attribute or an inherent quality that is not likely to change.

The verb estar (example sentences) (full conjugation) is used to indicate a condition which is likely to change.

Este río es muy ancho.
This river is very wide.

Hoy el agua del río está muy caliente.

Today the river's water is very warm.

Ser is often used to express the norm.

Estar expresses a departure from the norm.

José es una persona tranquila pero hoy está molesto.

Joe is a calm person but today he is upset.

Present Tense -

ser and

estar

	ser	estar
yo	soy	estoy	(I am)
tú	eres	estás	(you are)
Ud./él/ella	es	está	(he is)
nosotros (as)	somos	estamos	(we are)
vosotros (as)	sois	estáis	(you are)
Uds./ellos/ellas	son	están	(they are)

Footnote: yo = I, tú = you (informal), usted (Ud.) = you (formal), él = he, ella = she, nosotros = we (males/mixed group), nosotras = we (females), vosotros = you guys (informal, males/mixed group), vosotras = you guys (informal, females), ellos = they (males/mixed group), ellas = they(females), ustedes (Uds.) = you all (formal)

Uses of the Verb ser

Ser is used to signify equivalence or identity between two elements

Alberto es doctor. (Alberto = doctor) - Alberto is a doctor.

María es una buena persona. (María = buena persona) - Maria is a good person.

Ramón es colombiano. (Ramón = colombiano) - Ramon is Colombian.

Ser is used to indicate origin

Diego es de Perú. - Diego is from Peru.
Este tapete es de México. - This rug is from Mexico.

Ser is used to express possession

Esa bicicleta es de Gustavo. - That bike is Gustavo's.
Las llaves son de Julio. - Those keys are Julio's.

Ser is used to talk about time

Son las dos. - It's two.
Es la una y media. - It's one thirty.

Ser is used to talk about dates

Hoy es el cuarto de junio. - Today is the fourth of June.
Es jueves. - It's Thursday.

Uses of the Verb estar

Estar is used to signify the location of an object

La escuela esta al lado del correo. - The school is next to the post office.

Estar is used to express the present progressive

Estoy escribiendo. - I am writing.
Juan está escuchando. - Juan is listening.

Estar is used to indicate a resultant condition: estar + past participle

Estoy cansado. - I am tired.
Estamos despiertos. - We are awake.

Advanced Phrases

Phrases Using Ser and Estar

Additional Information

en español

VERBO SER Y ESTAR – SPANISH VERB TO BE - Le VERBE ÊTRE

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