1. —Estoy enamorado de usted. —No, no puede ser.
09/28/09
—Estoy enamorado de usted.
—No, no puede ser.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

2. 09/28/09
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

3. 09/28/09
Ser and estar both mean to be, but they are not interchangeable. Ser is used to express the idea of permanence, such as inherent or unchanging qualities and characteristics. Estar is used to express temporality, including qualities or conditions that change with time.
¡ATENCIÓN!
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

4. 09/28/09
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

5. Ser and estar with adjectives
09/28/09
Ser and estar with adjectives
Ser is used with adjectives to describe inherent, expected qualities. Estar is used to describe temporary or variable qualities, or a change in appearance or condition.
La casa es muy pequeña.
¡Están tan enojados!
The house is very small.
They’re so angry!
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

6. 09/28/09
With most descriptive adjectives, either ser or estar can be used, but the meaning of each statement is different.
Julio es alto.
¡Ay, qué alta estás, Adriana!
Julio is tall. (that is, a tall person)
How tall you’re getting, Adriana!
Dolores es alegre.
El jefe está alegre hoy. ¿Qué le pasa?
Dolores is cheerful. (that is, a cheerful person)
The boss is cheerful today. What’s up with him?
Juan Carlos es un hombre guapo.
¡Manuel, estás tan guapo!
Juan Carlos is a handsome man.
Manuel, you look so handsome!
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

7. 09/28/09
Some adjectives have two different meanings depending on whether they are used with ser or estar.
Estar, not ser, is used with muerto/a.
Bécquer, el autor de las Rimas, está muerto.
Bécquer, the author of Rimas, is dead.
¡ATENCIÓN!
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.