1. Written by: Diana Antonucci

2. Introduction Ser Estar
Today in Spanish, we are learning about two very important and useful verbs: Ser and Estar. Listen to this clip to learn more about our topic.
Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

3. Table of Contents I. Vocabulary and English parts of speech review
II. Uses of ser
Permanent things: names, basic characteristics, time and date, origin and nationality, professions
III. Uses of estar
Temporary things: physical conditions, locations, emotional conditions
IV. Comparison and conjugations
We’ll learn these two verbs by reviewing them first in English. Then, we’ll go over the uses of ser and estar and examine the differences between the two.

4. Official Spanish Speaking Countries
Ser and Estar are very important to know because they’re used in many places. Spanish is the official language in the following twenty countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

5. Vocabulary Spanish English abierta open el asistente the assistant
el baño
the bathroom
cansado
tired
la casa
the house
Let’s take a look at some of the vocabulary that you will encounter throughout this presentation: abierta means open, el asistente means the assistant, el baño is the Spanish word for the bathroom, cansado means tired, and la casa is Spanish for the house.
(Note: The gender of the vocabulary shown in this PowerPoint® only pertains to specific examples in this material.)

6. Vocabulary Spanish English el concierto the concert los elefantes
the elephants
enfermo
sick
fría
cold
furioso
furious
El concierto means the concert, los elefantes are the elephants, enfermo means sick, fría is the Spanish word for cold, and furioso means furious.

7. Vocabulary Spanish English el jefe the boss julio July el libro
the book
lunes
Monday
mañana
tomorrow
El jefe is Spanish for the boss, julio is the word for the month of July, el libro means the book, lunes is Spanish for Monday, and mañana means tomorrow.

8. Vocabulary Spanish English el médico the doctor la puerta the door
la sopa
the soup
la tienda
the store
la ventana
the window
El médico is the doctor, la puerta means the door, la sopa is Spanish for the soup, la tienda is the store, and la ventana is the Spanish word for the window. Now let’s put some of those words to use as we learn about two more essential words: ser and estar.

9. Ser and Estar Ser and Estar: Spanish verbs for “to be”
In Spanish, there are two verbs that can be translated as “to be.” These two verbs are ser and estar. Listen to this clip to learn about the differences between these two verbs.
Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

10. To Be… I am we are you are you-all are he/she is they are
I am, you are, he or she is, we are, you-all are, and they are, are the conjugations of the verb “to be” in English.

11. Parts of Speech Review: Nouns
Person, place, thing, or idea
Example: Connor is going to Sandusky to ride the rollercoaster.
Part of knowing when to use ser or estar relies on your ability to distinguish between nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Let’s review those three parts of speech in English before we move on with ser and estar. A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. In the sample sentence, Connor is going to Sandusky to ride the rollercoaster, Connor, Sandusky, and rollercoaster are all nouns.

12. Parts of Speech Review: Verbs
Indicates action
Example: Courtney reads books to the children.
A verb indicates action. In the sample sentence, Courtney reads books to the children, reads is the verb.

13. Parts of Speech Review: Adjectives
Modifies a noun
Descriptive words
Example: Casey picked out a blue dress to wear to the dance.
An adjective modifies a noun. Often adjectives are defined as descriptive words. In the sample sentence, Casey picked out a blue dress to wear to the dance, blue is the adjective. Blue describes the color of the dress.

14. Adjectives
“To be” followed by adjective: verb can change meaning of adjective
Let’s go over adjective rules that will help us with ser and estar. When the verb “to be” is followed by an adjective, the verb can actually change the meaning of the adjective.

15. Adjectives Example
El profesor está aburrido. (The professor is bored.)
El profesor es aburrido (The professor is boring.)
Take this sentence for example. 1. El profesor está aburrido. / The professor is bored. 2. El profesor es aburrido. / The professor is boring. Whether you use estar or ser totally changes the meaning of the sentence. There is a huge difference between a boring professor and a professor that is bored. Just sit in on a boring professor’s class for a few minutes and you will certainly appreciate the importance of choosing the correct verb!

16. Adjective Guidelines:
Verb “to be” followed by adjective: verb used depends upon meaning
If the verb “to be” is followed by an adjective, the verb used depends upon the meaning.

17. Adjective Guidelines:
Referring to essential characteristic: ser
Referring to a state or condition: estar
When referring to an essential characteristic, use ser. When referring to a state or condition, use estar.

18. Referring to Example La sopa está fría. The soup is cold.
Here are two examples:
1. La sopa está fría. / The soup is cold.
2. Los elefantes son grandes. / The elephants are big.
You’ll learn more about these conjugations later.
Los elefantes son grandes. The elephants are big.

19. When to Use… What… How… If talking about what something is: ser
If talking about how something is: estar
What…
How…
Use ser if you are talking about what something is. If you are talking about how something is, use estar.

20. Ser: Essential Quality
Ser address essential
Ser is irregular
To address an essential quality, use ser. This means how someone “is.” Ser is an irregular and standard conjugation rules do not apply. The conjugations for ser need to be memorized.

21. Ser Conjugated Form soy somos eres sois es son
Conjugated, ser includes soy, eres, es, somos, sois, and son.

22. Use Ser for … Permanent things Names Basic characteristics
Time and date
Origin and nationality
Professions
Ser is used for permanent things. These include names, basic characteristics, time and date, origin and nationality, and professions. We’ll look more closely at each of these uses.

23. Video Clip
Watch this video for a quick overview of some of the uses for ser.
Single click screen to view video clip

24. Names Use ser when introducing yourself Example: Yo soy María.
Yo soy Pablo.
When you introduce yourself to someone, you say “Yo soy María” or “Yo soy Pablo.” Ser is used for names because your name is something you, most likely, will always have.

25. Basic Characteristics
Describing a noun
Description does not change in some cases
Example:
She is Mexican.
He is American.
Use ser to describe basic characteristics about a person, place or thing. This means you would use ser for size, length, religion, color, or personality, to name a few possibilities. Those things do not change at all in some cases. For example: She is Mexican. He is American.

26. Basic Characteristics
Change can be gradual
Example: Ana es joven. (Ana is young.)
Also use ser when the change is gradual and slow. For example: Ana is young. She obviously won’t be young forever, but because the change is gradual, we use the verb ser.

27. Time and Date Express time, dates, days of the week Example:
1. Son las cinco (It is 5:00.)
2. Es el cuatro de julio. (It is the 4th of July.)
3. Es lunes. (It is Monday.)
Use ser when expressing the time, dates, and days of the week. For example: 1. Son las cinco. (It is 5:00.) This example shows the time. 2. Es el cuatro de julio. (It is the 4th of July.) Sample two shows the date. 3. Es lunes. (It is Monday.) Sample three shows the day of the week.

28. Video Clip
Watch this clip on using ser for expressing the time and date.
Single click screen to view video clip

29. Origin and Nationality
Show origin
Example: Él es de Cuba. (He is from Cuba.)
Show of what something is made
Example: La camisa es de seda. (The shirt is made of silk.)
Use ser when showing origin. For example: Él es de Cuba. (He is from Cuba.) This sentence indicates that the subject’s country of origin is Cuba. Also use ser to show of what something is made. For example: La camisa es de seda. (The shirt is made of silk.) This sentence shows of what type of material the shirt is made.

30. Ownership To show possession
Example: El libro es de Miguel. (The book is Miguel’s.)
Also use ser when showing possession or ownership. For example: El libro es de Miguel. (The book is Miguel’s.) This sentence shows that Miguel owns, or possesses, the book.

31. Professions Video
Watch this clip on using ser when talking about professions.
Single click screen to view video clip

32. Estar: Conditions To address condition: estar
Estar is an irregular verb
Estar is also an irregular verb. It does not follow the standard rules of conjugation for regular -ar verbs. Since rules don’t apply, you must memorize the conjugations. Listen to this clip for a brief overview of the uses of estar.
Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

33. Estar Conjugated Form estoy estamos estás estáis está están
Listen to this audio clip about the conjugation of estar. Estar conjugated includes estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, and están.
Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

34. Use Estar for … Temporary things Temporary physical conditions
Location
Temporary emotional conditions
Estar is the other “to be” verb. Estar differs from ser because it is used for temporary things, like physical conditions, location, and emotional conditions.

35. Video
Estar is used for temporary physical conditions. Watch this clip to learn more.
Single click screen to view video clip

36. Location To express location/position
Use estar to express location or position. This applies whether it is temporary or permanent.

37. Location/Position Yo estoy en la tienda. (I am in the store.)
Ella está conmigo. (She is with me.)
Madrid está en España. (Madrid is in Spain.)
Here are a few location or position examples. 1. Yo estoy en la tienda. (I am in the store.) 2. Ella está conmigo. (She is with me.) 3. Madrid está en España. (Madrid is in Spain.) All three sentences express some degree of location or position.

38. Location Video Watch this clip about using estar to show location.
Single click screen to view video clip

39. Temporary Conditions
To describe a TEMPORARY condition or feeling of a person or thing
Use estar to describe a temporary condition or feeling of a person or thing. If it’s temporary, it will change.

40. Temporary Condition or Feeling
Tú estás enfermo. (You are sick.)
La puerta está cerrada. (The door is closed.)
Luis está cansado. (Luis is tired.)
La ventana está abierta. (The window is open.)
For example: 1. Tú estás enfermo. (You are sick.) You won’t be sick forever, hopefully, so that is a condition that will change. 2. La puerta está cerrada. (The door is closed.) The door won’t stay closed forever, or it wouldn’t be much of a door. 3. Luis está cansado. (Luis is tired.) Eventually, Luis will gain energy. 4. La ventana está abierta. (The window is open.) The window won’t always be open. All of these examples show situations where things are temporary, or not permanent.

41. Comparing Ser & Estar ser estar ser Describing origin: ser
Describing location: estar
estar
ser
Now that you’ve learned the basic rules for ser and estar, let’s compare the two verbs. Origin, location, and taking place may all seem to do with “where,” but they don’t all use the same verb. As discussed in this audio clip, to describe origin, or where something is from, use ser. To describe location, or where something is located right now, use estar.
Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

42. Origin and Location Mónica es de España. (origin)
Mónica está en Venezuela. (location)
La fiesta es en la casa de Mónica. (taking place)
Take a look at these examples. 1. Mónica es de España. This sentence indicates that Mónica is from, or originated, in Spain. 2. Mónica está en Venezuela. This sentence indicates that Mónica is currently in, or located in, Venezuela. 3. La fiesta es en la casa de Mónica. This sentence indicates that a party is taking place in Mónica’s house.

43. Ser & Estar Review Estar Ser Ser is used for: Names
Basic characteristics
Time and date
Origin and nationality
Professions
Estar is used for:
Temporary physical conditions
Location
Temporary emotional conditions
Estar
Let’s review ser and estar one more time. Ser is used for permanent things, like names, basic characteristics, time and date, origin and nationality, and professions. Estar is for temporary things, such as physical conditions, location, and emotional conditions.
Ser

44. Practice 1. He is bored. A) Él es aburrido. B) Él está aburrido.
Test your knowledge of ser and estar. Which sentence is best for the English translation?
He is bored. Él es aburrido or Él está aburrido?
He is boring. Él es aburrido or Él está aburrido?
2. He is boring.
A) Él es aburrido. B) Él está aburrido.

45. Practice Answers 1. B) Él está aburrido. 2. A) Él es aburrido.
Let’s see if we’re right!
1. B) Él está aburrido. He is bored.
2. A) Él es aburrido. He is boring.

46. Practice Questions: Ser & Estar
Diego (es, está) de Madrid pero ahora (es, está) estudiando en Salamanca.
El jefe (es, está) furioso porque su asistente (es, está) muy desorganizado hoy.
El concierto va a (ser, estar) mañana. Los músicos (son, están) peruanos.
Choose the correct answer:
1. Diego (es, está) de Madrid pero ahora (es, está) estudiando en Salamanca. 2. El jefe (es, está) furioso porque su asistente (es, está) muy desorganizado hoy El concierto va a (ser, estar) mañana. Los músicos (son, están) peruanos.

47. Ser & Estar Answers 1) es, está 2) está, está 3) ser, son
Let’s check the answers. Are we correct?
1) es, está
2) está, está
3) ser, son

48. Practice Questions 1) Yo _________ estudiante.
2) Ella __________ en el baño.
3) Nosotras no _______de Cuba.
4) Tú _________ médico.
5) Alba no _________tonta.
Now see if you can fill in the blank.
1) Yo _________ estudiante.
2) Ella __________ en el baño.
3) Nosotras no _______de Cuba.
4) Tú _________ médico.
5) Alba no _________tonta.

49. Ser and Estar Answers 1) Yo _ soy ____ estudiante.
2) Ella __ está __ en el baño.
3) Nosotras no _ somos ____de Cuba.
4) Tú _ eres __ médico.
5) Alba no __es ___tonta.
Let’s go over the answers:
1) Yo ___SOY______ estudiante.
2) Ella ___ESTÁ_________ en el baño.
3) Nosotras no __SOMOS_____de Cuba.
4) Tú ___ERES______ médico.
5) Alba no ___ES______tonta.
1) soy
2) está
3) somos
4) eres
5) es

50. Ser Singular yo soy - I am tú eres - you are Ud. es - you are (formal)
él es - he is
ella es - she is
For review, this graph shows the singular conjugations for ser. (Ser singular) yo soy—I am, tú eres—you are, Ud. es—you are (formal), él es—he is, ella es—she is.

51. Ud. está - you are (formal)
Estar Singular
yo estoy - I am
tú estás - you are
Ud. está - you are (formal)
él está - he is
ella está - she is
(Estar singular) yo estoy—I am, tú estás—you are, Ud. está—you are (formal), él está—he is, ella está—she is.

52. nosotros/as somos - we are vosotros/as sois - you all are
Ser Plural
nosotros/as somos - we are
vosotros/as sois - you all are
Uds. son - you all are
ellos son - they are
ellas son - they are
This graph shows the plural conjugations for ser. (Ser plural) nosotros/as somos—we are, vosotros/as sois—you all are, Uds. son—you all are, ellos son—they are, ellas son—they are.

53. nosotros/as estamos - we are vosotros/as estáis - you all are
Estar Plural
nosotros/as estamos - we are
vosotros/as estáis - you all are
Uds. están - you all are
ellos están - they are
ellas están - they are
Here is estar plural. (Estar plural) nosotros/as estamos—we are, vosotros/as estáis—you all are, Uds. están—you all are, ellos están—they are, ellas están—they are.

54. Final Thoughts Ser and Estar Refer and review
The differences between ser and estar can seem confusing. Don’t be overwhelmed! Refer to the conjugation charts when reviewing and practicing. In time, you will have memorized the conjugations and will no longer be dependent upon the charts.

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