Realidades 1 SER vs. ESTAR

SER VS. ESTAR You already know the verb ESTAR. It means “to be”

SER VS. ESTAR There is another verb in Spanish that means “to be.” It is the verb SER.

SER VS. ESTAR SER is an irregular verb, just like ESTAR, so you must memorize all its forms.

SER VS. ESTAR There are certain occasions in which you will use either SER or ESTAR. Let’s review ESTAR first!

ESTAR Used for telling LOCATION. For example:

ESTAR El libro está en la mesa. The book is on the table. Yo estoy en Guatemala. I am in Guatemala.

ESTAR Used to tell CONDITION. For example:

ESTAR Eduardo está ocupado. Eduardo is busy. Ana y Luisa están enfermas. Ana and Luisa are sick.

TO BE (In English) Iam Youare He Sheis It Weare Theyare

ESTAR Yoestoy Túestás Ud. Élestá Ella Nosotros estamos Vosotros estáis Uds. Ellos están Ellas

Ok, now let’s see what the verb SER looks like. Remember, all it’s forms are totally irregular and they follow NO pattern. You must memorize them!

SER Yosoy Túeres Ud. Éles Ella Nosotros somos Vosotros sois Uds. Ellos son Ellas

SER Used to tell TIME and DATE. Son las dos y media. It is two thirty. Es el veinte de noviembre. It is the twentieth of November.

SER Used to tell NATIONALITY. For example: Yo soy americana. Él es colombiano.

SER Used to tell WHERE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS FROM. Tú eres de Costa Rica. Ellas son de España.

SER To tell what someone or something is or what someone or something is like. Pepper es una perrita buena. Eduardo y José son hombres. Eduardo y José son altos.

SER Used to describe CHARACTERISTICS. Rebeca es alta. Enrique y yo somos guapos.

To summarize… Ser is used to talk about characteristics that generally do NOT change (traits). Estar is used to talk about conditions that tend to change (states).