Notes

Write a note in this area. It'sThe Basics

Ser is generally used to describe what a noun is (essential characteristics).

Estar is generally used to describe how a noun is (condition).

Example

It is useful to have two ways of saying “to be.” Consider this English sentence:

The tomato is green.

This sentence could mean one of two things:

The tomato is of a variety that produces tomatoes that are green in color.
The tomato is not ripe.
This situation is avoided in Spanish because if the verb Ser is use really easy to share with others. Click here ...El tomate es verde. The tomato is green in color.

El tomate está verde. The tomato is unripe.

Conjugation

To further complicate matters, ser and estar are both irregular verbs.

In the case of ser, you must simply memorize the different forms. Here are the present tense conjugations of ser:

Ser



yo soy nosotros(as) somos



tú eres vosotros(as) sois



él/ella/Ud. es ellos/ellas/Uds. son



In the case of estar, it only has two small catches: it has an irregular yo form and the tú, él, and ellos forms need an accent for phonetic reasons (and to make sure they aren't confused with the demonstratives). Here are the present tense conjugations of estar:

Estar



yo estoy nosotros(as) estamos



tú estás vosotros(as) estáis



él/ella/Ud. está ellos/ellas/Uds. están

Ser: Uses

USE EXAMPLE

Essential characteristics Yo soy inteligente. = I am intelligent.

Telling time Son las dos y veinte de la tarde. = It is 2:20 PM.

Origin / nationality Carlos es guatemalteco. = Carlos is Guatemalan.

Occupation / religion Nosotros somos carpinteros. = We are carpenters.

Composition (made of) La mesa es de madera. = The table is (made of) wood.

Possession / ownership La chaqueta amarilla es mía. = The yellow jacket is mine.

Relationships Jorge es el esposo de Juana. = Jorge is Juana's husband.

Impersonal expressions Es importante respirar todos los días. = It is important to breathe every day.

Events La reunión es en la sala de conferencia. = The meeting is in the conference room.

Estar: Uses

USE EXAMPLE

Condition Mis hermanos están enfermos. = My brothers are sick.

Progressive actions Tú estás tocando el piano. = You are playing the piano.

Idiomatic expressions Estamos de acuerdo. = We agree. (We are in agreement)

Physical location ¿Dónde está Raúl? = Where is Raul?



- Note: The use of ser or estar can change the meaning of a sentence. Here are some examples:

Patricia es aburrida. Patricia is boring.

Patricia está aburrida. Patricia is bored.



Roberto es guapo. Roberto is handsome.

Roberto está guapo. Roberto looks handsome.



Los niños son listos. The children are bright / smart.

Los niños están listos. The children are ready.

As you can see, the use of the verb ser implies what they are, and the use of estar implies how they currently are or currently seem.