SER & ESTAR
| SER | PRESENTA DE INDICATIVO | IMPERFECTO | PRETÉRITO SIMPLE | FUTURO | CONDICIONAL | PRESENTE DE SUBJUNTIVO |
| YO | Soy | Era | Fui | Seré | Sería | Sea |
| TU | Eres | Eras | Fuiste | Serás | Serías | Seas |
| ÉL, ELLA | Es | Era | Fue | Sera | Sería | Sea |
| NOSOTROS | Somos | Éramos | Fuimos | Seremos | Seríamos | Seamos |
| VOSOTROS | Sois | Erais | Fuisteis | Sereís | Seríais | Seais |
| ELLOS | Son | Eran | Fueron | Serán | Serían | Sean |
| ESTAR | PRESENTA DE INDICATIVO | IMPERFECTO | PRETÉRITO SIMPLE | FUTURO | CONDICIONAL | PRESENTE DE SUBJUNTIVO |
| YO | Estoy | Estaba | Estuve | Estaré | Estaría | Esté |
| TU | Estás | Estabas | Estuviste | Estarás | Estarías | Estés |
| ÉL, ELLA | Está | Estaba | Estuvo | Estará | Estaría | Esté |
| NOSOTROS | Estamos | Estábamos | Estuvimos | Estaremos | Estaríamos | Estemos |
| VOSOTROS | Estáis | Estabais | Estuvisteis | Estaréis | Estaríais | Estéis |
| ELLOS | Estan | Estaban | Estuvieron | Estarán | Estarían | Estén |
Ser and estar can both be translated as "to be." Here is the English verb, fully conjugated:
to be
I am
you are
he/she is
we are
you-all are
they are
Notice that these two sentences can have different meanings in English.
The apple is green.
(Meaning the apple is not ripe.)
The apple is green.
(Meaning the color of the apple is green.)
In the first case, our example speaks of the condition of the apple. The apple is green because it has not yet ripened. When the condition of the apple changes, that is, when it has ripened, it will no longer be green, it will be ripe.
In the second case, our example speaks of the essential characteristics of the apple. The apple is green in color. This particular apple remains green even after it has ripened.
In English, the verb "to be" can be used to tell how something is (the condition) and what something is (the essence).
How is the apple?
It is unripe.
What color is the apple?
It is green.
In Spanish, a different verb is used to express "to be" depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.
La manzana está verde.
The apple is green. (condition)
La manzana es verde.
The apple is green. (essence)
Note how the adjective "verde" actually changes meaning, depending upon whether it is used with ser or estar.
La manzana está verde.
(condition: verde = unripe)
La manzana es verde.
(essential characteristic: verde = color green)
To address condition, use estar.
To address an essential quality, use ser.
If you are talking about what something is, use ser; if you are talking about how something is, use estar.
What is she like?
She is quiet.
Use ser:
Ella es callada.
How is she acting?
She is being quiet.
Use estar:
Ella está callada.
USES FOR THE VERB SER
Ser is used to express the hour, day, and date.
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?
Son las dos.
It's two o'clock.
¿Qué día es hoy?
What day is today?
Hoy es lunes.
Today's Monday.
¿Qué fecha es hoy?
What's the date today?
Es el cinco de mayo.
It's May fifth.
Ser is used to express place of origin.
¿De dónde eres tú?
Where are you from?
Soy de Colombia.
I'm from Colombia.
Ser is used to express occupation.
¿Cuál es tu trabajo?
What do you do?
Soy carpintero
I'm a carpenter.
Ser is used to express nationality.
¿Es ella puertorriqueña?
Is she Puerto Rican?
No, es guatemalteca.
No, she's Guatemalan.
Ser is used to express religious or political affiliation.
¿Son los García bautistas?
Are the Garcias Baptists?
No, son católicos.
No, they're Catholics.
¿Es el gobierno socialista?
Is the government socialist?
No, es comunista.
No, it's communist.
Ser is used to express the material something is made of.
¿De qué material es la mesa?
What's the table made of?
Es de madera.
It's made of wood.
Ser is used to express possession.
¿De quién es la pluma?
Whose pen is it?
Es de Emilio.
It's Emilio's.
Ser is used to express the relationship of one person to another.
¿Quién es Rogelio?
Who is Roger?
Es el esposo de Marta.
He's Martha's husband.
Ser is used with certain impersonal expressions.
Es importante practicar cada día.
It's important to practice every day.
Es necesario hablar mucho.
It's necessary to speak a lot.
Ser is used to tell where an event is taking place.
La película es en el cine.
The movie is at the theatre.
La fiesta es en el club Fantástico.
The party is in the Fantastic Club.
Ser is used with adjectives to express inherent, or essential qualities.
Miguel es un hombre sincero.
Mike is a sincere man.
También es guapo.
He's also handsome.
Let's review. Ser is used to express:
- the hour, day, and date
- place of origin
- occupation
- nationality
- religious or political affiliation
- the material something is made of
- possession
- relationship of one person to another
- certain impersonal expressions
- where an event is taking place
- essential qualities
USES FOR THE VERB ESTAR
Estar is used to express geographic or physical locations.
¿Dónde estás?
Where are you?
Estoy en el laboratorio.
I'm in the laboratory.
¿Dónde está Chile?
Where's Chile?
Chile está en América del Sur.
Chile is in South America.
Note: The one exception to this rule is that ser is used to tell where an event is taking place. (La fiesta es en mi casa.)
Estar is used with adjectives to express a state or condition ("how" something is).
¿Cómo está la sopa?
How's the soup?
La sopa está fría.
The soup is cold.
¿Cómo estás tú?
How are you?
Estoy muy bien, gracias.
I am very well, thanks.
Estar is used with many idiomatic expressions. These are just a few.
estar de acuerdo
to be in agreement
estar de pie
to be standing
estar en camino
to be on the way
estar en las nubes
to daydream
Estar is used with the progressive tenses. You will learn more about this usage later. We present it now simply because it is an important use of the verb estar.
¿Qué estás comiendo?
What are you eating?
Estoy comiendo arroz y frijoles.
I am eating rice and beans.
Let's review. Estar is used to express:
- geographic or physical location
- state or condition
- many idiomatic expressions
- progressive tenses
COMPAREMOS EL USO DE AMBOS VERBOS
When the verb "to be" is followed by a noun, the verb ser is always used. In this instance, it might be helpful to think of the verb as equivalent to an "equal" sign, such as a = b. This type of sentence is always referring to essential characteristics, since the verb is "linking" what comes before the verb to what comes after the verb.
John is a doctor.
John = doctor.
Juan es médico.
When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb used depends upon the meaning. When referring to an essential characteristic, use ser. When referring to a state or condition, use estar.
La sopa está fría.
The soup is cold.
Los elefantes son grandes.
The elephants are big.
When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb can actually change the meaning of the adjective.
El profesor está aburrido.
The professor is bored.
El profesor es aburrido.
The professor is boring.
Distinguishing between origin, location, and "to take place." To describe origin, or where something is from, use ser. To describe location, or where something is located right now, use estar. To tell where an event is taking place, use ser.
Mónica es de España. (origin)
Mónica está en Venezuela. (location)
La fiesta es en la casa de Mónica. (taking place)
Let's review.
- When a noun follows the verb, use ser
- When an adjective follows the verb, decide between "essence" and "condition"
- To tell where something is from, use ser
- To tell where something is located right now, use estar
- To tell where an event is taking place, use ser
