Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences would use the verb 'estar'?
She is very intelligent.
What verb would you use to describe someone's nationality?
Ser
Which of the following idiomatic expressions uses the verb 'estar'?
She is on the way.
What verb would you use to describe an event taking place?
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Which of the following sentences would use the verb 'ser'?
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What verb would you use to describe someone's occupation?
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Which of the following sentences would use the verb 'estar'?
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What verb would you use to describe the time of day?
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Study Notes
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.
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