Spanish Grammar: Ser vs Estar Chapter 5

Ser vs Estar

Key Differences

• Position and Location: Estar is used for location and position, e.g. La cama está al lado de la mesa (the bed is next to the table)
• Action, Condition, Emotion: Estar is used for actions, conditions, and emotions, e.g. Estoy hablando español (I am speaking Spanish), María está enferma (María is sick), Nosotros estamos felices (we are happy)
• Time, Date, Occupation, Characteristics: Ser is used for time, date, occupation, and characteristics, e.g. Hoy es el 28 de noviembre (today is November 28), Señora Lopez es profesora (Mrs. Lopez is a teacher), Juan es alto y divertido (Juan is tall and funny)

Ser Rules

• Time, Day, or Date: Use ser for time-related questions, e.g. ¿Qué hora es? (what time is it?)
• Origin: Use ser for questions about origin, e.g. ¿De dónde eres? (where are you from?)
• Job: Use ser for occupations, e.g. Soy médico (I am a doctor)
• Nationality: Use ser for nationality, e.g. Soy inglés (I am English)
• Religion: Use ser for religious affiliations, e.g. ¿Eres Católico? (are you Catholic?)
• Material: Use ser for materials, e.g. Mis pantalones son de algodón (my pants are made of cotton)
• Possession: Use ser for possession, e.g. Es mi bolígrafo (it's my pen)
• Event Location: Use ser for event locations, e.g. La fiesta es en mi casa (the party is at my house)
• Personality and Physical Description: Use ser for personality and physical descriptions, e.g. Soy alto (I am tall), Es muy aburrido (he is very boring)
• Impersonal Expressions: Use ser for impersonal expressions, e.g. Es muy importante que te bañes (it's very important that you take a bath)

Estar Rules

• Geographical or Physical Location: Use estar for geographical or physical locations, e.g. Barcelona está en España (Barcelona is in Spain)
• State or Condition: Use estar for states or conditions, e.g. Estoy enfermo (I am sick), La manzana está verde (the apple is green)
• Idiomatic Expressions: Use estar for idiomatic expressions, e.g. Estar en las nubes (to daydream)
• Progressive Tense: Use estar for the progressive tense, e.g. Estoy estudiando español (I am studying Spanish)

Adjectives that Change Meaning

• Listo: clever (ser) vs. ready (estar)
• Malo: bad (ser) vs. ill (estar)
• Rico: rich (ser) vs. tasty (estar)
• Vivo: lively (ser) vs. alive (estar)
• Bueno: good (ser) vs. well (estar)
• Cansado: tiring (ser) vs. tired (estar)
• Grave: serious (ser) vs. seriously ill (estar)
• Verde: green (ser) vs. unripe (estar)
• Moreno: dark-haired (ser) vs. suntanned (estar)
• Pesado: heavy (ser) vs. tiresome (estar)
• Aburrido: boring (ser) vs. bored (estar)
• Seguro: safe (ser) vs. sure, certain (estar)

Remember

• Use estar for how you feel and where you are.
• Use ser for who you are, where you are from, and other characteristics.

Ser vs Estar

Key Differences

• Position and Location: Estar is used for location and position, e.g. La cama está al lado de la mesa (the bed is next to the table)
• Action, Condition, Emotion: Estar is used for actions, conditions, and emotions, e.g. Estoy hablando español (I am speaking Spanish), María está enferma (María is sick), Nosotros estamos felices (we are happy)
• Time, Date, Occupation, Characteristics: Ser is used for time, date, occupation, and characteristics, e.g. Hoy es el 28 de noviembre (today is November 28), Señora Lopez es profesora (Mrs. Lopez is a teacher), Juan es alto y divertido (Juan is tall and funny)

Ser Rules

• Time, Day, or Date: Use ser for time-related questions, e.g. ¿Qué hora es? (what time is it?)
• Origin: Use ser for questions about origin, e.g. ¿De dónde eres? (where are you from?)
• Job: Use ser for occupations, e.g. Soy médico (I am a doctor)
• Nationality: Use ser for nationality, e.g. Soy inglés (I am English)
• Religion: Use ser for religious affiliations, e.g. ¿Eres Católico? (are you Catholic?)
• Material: Use ser for materials, e.g. Mis pantalones son de algodón (my pants are made of cotton)
• Possession: Use ser for possession, e.g. Es mi bolígrafo (it's my pen)
• Event Location: Use ser for event locations, e.g. La fiesta es en mi casa (the party is at my house)
• Personality and Physical Description: Use ser for personality and physical descriptions, e.g. Soy alto (I am tall), Es muy aburrido (he is very boring)
• Impersonal Expressions: Use ser for impersonal expressions, e.g. Es muy importante que te bañes (it's very important that you take a bath)

Estar Rules

• Geographical or Physical Location: Use estar for geographical or physical locations, e.g. Barcelona está en España (Barcelona is in Spain)
• State or Condition: Use estar for states or conditions, e.g. Estoy enfermo (I am sick), La manzana está verde (the apple is green)
• Idiomatic Expressions: Use estar for idiomatic expressions, e.g. Estar en las nubes (to daydream)
• Progressive Tense: Use estar for the progressive tense, e.g. Estoy estudiando español (I am studying Spanish)

Adjectives that Change Meaning

• Listo: clever (ser) vs. ready (estar)
• Malo: bad (ser) vs. ill (estar)
• Rico: rich (ser) vs. tasty (estar)
• Vivo: lively (ser) vs. alive (estar)
• Bueno: good (ser) vs. well (estar)
• Cansado: tiring (ser) vs. tired (estar)
• Grave: serious (ser) vs. seriously ill (estar)
• Verde: green (ser) vs. unripe (estar)
• Moreno: dark-haired (ser) vs. suntanned (estar)
• Pesado: heavy (ser) vs. tiresome (estar)
• Aburrido: boring (ser) vs. bored (estar)
• Seguro: safe (ser) vs. sure, certain (estar)

Remember

• Use estar for how you feel and where you are.
• Use ser for who you are, where you are from, and other characteristics.