Summary of Uses of ser and estar(Resumen de los usos de ser y estar)

Modified by M. Sincioco

soyereses

somos

son

The verb ser is irregular in all of its forms.

Ser is one of the “to be” verbs

Ser is used:

with adjectives to express characteristics such as size, shape, etc.

with the subject of a sentence when followed by a noun or noun phrase that restates the subject.

with de to tell origin, possession, and what things are made of

to express dates, days of the week, months, and seasons

Ser is one of the “to be” verbs

to express time

with the preposition para to tell for whom or for what something is intended or to express a deadline

with impersonal expressions

to indicate where and when events take place

SER tells the origin/nationality of

peopleYo soy de México.

¿De dónde eres tú?

Notice the use of the preposition de to indicate the origin of people.

SER also tells the origin/nationality of thingsEl reloj es de Suiza.

Notice the use of the preposition de to indicate the origin of things.

SER also expresses possessionEl perro es de Elena.

Notice the use of the preposition de to indicate possession.

SER expresses possessionLa computadora es de

Isabel.

Notice the use of the preposition de to indicate possession.

SER also expresses relationshipsCarmen y Rosa son hermanas

(sisters).

SER tells what material something is

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

made of

Notice the use of the preposition de to indicate what something is made of.

SER also expresses basic characteristics

La mesa es redonda (round).

SER also expresses basic characteristics

Gracias, señorita. Usted

es muy simpática

también . . . ¡y muy guapa!

Usted es muy simpático,

señor.

SER tells what is (occupation)Yo soy

banquero.(I am a banker.)

Tú eres carpintero.

(You are a carpenter.)

Luis es programador de computadoras.

(Luis is a computer programmer.)

Nosotros somos estudiantes de español.

(We are Spanish students.)

someone

SER tells what is (identification)

Esto es un diccionario.(This is a dictionary.)

Esto es una pluma.(This is a pen.)

something

SER tells who is (identification)

someone

Yo soy Luis Andrés

Rosales.

SER is used for days, dates, months, years

and seasonsHoy es jueves.Es septiembre.Es el

4.Es el año 2008.Hoy es jueves, 4 de septiembre de

2008.¡Es

otoño!

SER is used for time of day

Es la una.

¿Qué hora es?

Son las tres y media.

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2

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8

9

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SER is used with para (=for) to tell for whom or for

what something is intended (destination)Esa calculadora es para

Armando.

Es para su clase de matemáticas.

SER is used with para to express a deadline

La invitación es para el viernes.

SER is used for impersonal expressions

Es importante.

Es verdad.

Es necesario.Es increíble.

Es maravilloso.

=important.

true.

necessary.

incredible.

marvelous.

SER means to “take place”: EVENT time and place

fiestasWhat kinds of things “take place”? EVENTS like:conciert

osbodasconferenciasclasesreuniones

partidos (juegos)

películas

discusionesfuneralesgraduacionesdesfiles

SER means to “take place” : EVENT time and place.La película es en el cine “Los Rollos”.

Es a las siete y media.

Mnemonic to remember SER:“DIE BOOT PERM!!!”

Destination/deadline Possession

Identification Event time/place

Expressions (impersonal) Relationships

Basic characteristics Material/made of

Origin/nationality

Occupation

Time/day/date

estoyestásestá

estamos

estánEstar also bears a written accent on all but the first-

person (yo and nosotros/as) forms.

The verb estar is irregular in its yo form.

Estar is the other “to be” verb

to indicate the location of persons and objects (not an event)

with adjectives to describe the emotion, state or condition of the subject

with descriptive adjectives (or adjectives normally used with ser) to indicate that something is exceptional or unusual. This structure often reflects someone’s subjective reaction and is frequently used when complimenting someone.

to describe the taste of food or drink (palate)

Estar is the other “to be” verbEstar is used:

ESTAR tells where (location)

Estoy en casa.I’m at home.

Claudio está en la cocina.Claudio is in the kitchen.

París está en Francia.Paris is in France.

ESTAR describe the state or condition of the subject

Estoy apurada.I’m in a hurry.

Mario está ocupado.Mario is busy.

Mamá está dormida.Mom is asleep.

ESTAR describe the state or condition of the subject: marriage

Estoy casada.I’m married.

Jon y Kate están divoricados.Jon and Kate are divorced.

Claire y Phil están casados.Claire and Phil are married.

ESTAR tells how

Estoy muy cansado.I am very tired.

Amelia está enojada.Amelia is angry.

Angela está bien.Angela is well.

ESTAR tells how (emotions)

Estamos muy contentos.We are very happy.

Carlos y Juan están tristes.Carlos and Juan are sad.

Tú estás enamorado.You are in love.

ESTAR tells how (health)

Usted está muy enfermo.You are very sick.

Mi mamá está en buena salud.My mother is in good health.

Juan está malo.Juan is sick.

ESTAR expresses subjective reactions

¡Caray! ¡Con ese corte de pelo estás

muy guapa!

ESTAR expresses subjective reactions

¡Me gusta tu pelo! ¡Qué bonita estás!

ESTAR tells how things taste (palate)

¡Mmmm! ¡Este café

está muy rico!

ESTAR tells how things taste (palate)

¡Mmmm! ¡La comida

está deliciosa!

Mnemonic to remember ESTAR:“HELP MRS”

Health Marriage

Emotion Reactions

Location State/condition

Palate/taste

Special Note

• There is one more use of “estar” – with a tense called “present progressive”

• Example: Estoy hablando = I’m talking (at this exact moment)

• We will learn this tense in Chapter 5 so you don’t need to study it for the midterm exam

Changes in meaning with ser or estar

• In some cases a sentence can be technically correct with either ser or estar, depending on context.

• Some adjectives have different meanings depending on whether they are used with ser or estar.

Examples: Complete list on p. 101• Aburrido

– Soy aburrido = I’m a boring person (characteristic).– Estoy aburrido = I’m bored. (emotion)

• Listo = clever or ready– Eres listo = You’re clever/smart. (characteristic)– Estás listo = You’re ready. (condition)

• Malo = evil or sick– Es malo = He’s evil (characteristic)– Está en el hospital. Está malo = He’s sick. (condition)

FIN