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SER and ESTAR

The document explains the differences between the Spanish verbs 'ser' and 'estar', both meaning 'to be' but used in distinct contexts. 'Ser' is used for characteristics, identity, origin, time, and possession, while 'estar' is used for location, conditions, health, and ongoing actions. Examples illustrate the specific uses of each verb in sentences.

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6 views11 pages

SER and ESTAR

The document explains the differences between the Spanish verbs 'ser' and 'estar', both meaning 'to be' but used in distinct contexts. 'Ser' is used for characteristics, identity, origin, time, and possession, while 'estar' is used for location, conditions, health, and ongoing actions. Examples illustrate the specific uses of each verb in sentences.

Uploaded by

carnel nalupano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SER AND ESTAR

BOTH HAVE THE SAME MEANING “TO BE” BUT HAVE DIFFERENT USES.
In Spanish there are two irregular verbs, ser and
estar, that both mean to be, although they are
used very differently. In the present simple tense,
they follow the patterns shown below.
USE OF SER
with an adjective when talking about a characteristic or fairly permanent quality, for
example, shape, size, height, colour, material, nationality.
Mi hermano es alto. My brother is tall.
María es inteligente. María is intelligent.
Es rubia. She’s blonde.
Es muy guapa. She’s very pretty.
Es rojo. It’s red.
Es de algodón. It’s made of cotton.
Sus padres son italianos. His parents are Italian.
Es joven/viejo. He’s young/old.
Son muy ricos/pobres. They’re very rich/poor.
 with a following noun or pronoun that tells you what someone or something is
• Miguel es camarero. Miguel is a waiter.
• Soy yo, Enrique. It’s me, Enrique.
• Madrid es la capital de España. Madrid is the capital of Spain.
 to say that something belongs to someone
• La casa es de Javier. The house belongs to Javier.
• Es mío. It’s mine.
 to talk about where someone or something comes from
• Yo soy de Escocia. I’m from Scotland.
• Mi mujer es de Granada. My wife is from Granada
to say what time it is or what the date is
• Son las tres y media. It’s half past three.
• Mañana es sábado. Tomorrow is Saturday.
in calculations
• Tres y dos son cinco. Three and two are five.
• ¿Cuánto es? – Son dos euros. How much is it? It’s two euros.
 when followed by an infinitive
• Lo importante es decir la verdad The important thing is to tell the truth.
To describe actions using the passive (for example they are made, it is sold)
• Son fabricados en España. They are made in Spain.
USE OF ESTAR
 to talk about where something or someone is
• Estoy en Madrid. I’m in Madrid.
• ¿Dónde está Burgos? Where’s Burgos?
• Está cerca de aquí. It’s near here.
 with an adjective when there has been a change in the condition of someone or
something or to suggest that there is something unexpected about them
• El café está frío. The coffee’s cold.
• ¡Qué guapa estás con este vestido! How pretty you look in that
dress!
• Hoy estoy de mal humor. I’m in a bad mood today.
 with a past participle used as an adjective, to describe the state that something is in
• Las tiendas están cerradas. The shops are closed.
• No está terminado. It isn’t finished.
• El lavabo está ocupado. The toilet is engaged.
• Está roto. It’s broken.
 when talking about someone’s health

• ¿Cómo están ustedes? How are you?


• Estamos todos bien. We’re all well.
 to form continuous tenses such as the present continuous tense
• Está comiendo. He’s eating.
• Estamos aprendiendo mucho. We are learning a great deal

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