Ser and Estar
Estar |
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| Estar is used to indicate location and position. Estar also expresses changing conditions such as health and mood, unexpected changes in the condition of a person, place or thing, and conditions that cause emotion. | |
Use estar to indicate location and position. |
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| I don’t want to be here. | No quiero estar aquí. |
| Your overcoat is on that chair. | Tu abrigo esta en aquella silla. |
| Where is my hat? |
¿Donde esta mi sombrero? |
| Paris is in France. |
Paris esta en Francia. |
| Tell him I’m not here. | Dile que no estoy. |
| My parent’s aren’t here. |
Mis padres no están. |
Use estar to indicate changing conditions. |
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| The children are sick. | Los niños están enfermos. |
| I’m worried. | Estoy preocupado. |
| The soup is cold. | La sopa esta fría. |
| We are tired. | Estamos cansados. |
| The princess is sad. | La princesa esta triste. |
| The room is dirty. | El cuarto esta sucio. |
Use estar to express sudden changes or conditions that cause emotion. |
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| You’re looking very handsome this evening. | Estas muy guapo esta noche. |
| We’re very brave. | Estamos muy valientes. |
| It’s a lovely day. | El día esta precioso. |
Ser |
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| Ser is used to refer to the essential characteristics of a person or thing (color, size, material, occupation, nationality, identity). Ser is also used to indicate time, dates and ownership.
Note: Adjectives following ser must always agree with the subject in number and gender. |
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Ser tells who or what someone or something is. |
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| I am a woman. |
Soy mujer. |
| It’s an elephant. |
Es un elefante. |
| He isn’t my brother. |
El no es mi hermano. |
| Who are you? |
¿Quien es usted? |
Ser is used to refer to the unchanging qualities of a person or thing. |
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| Mario is tall and fat. |
Mario es alto y gordo. |
| The houses are modern and clean. |
Las casas son modernas y limpias. |
| They are neither short nor tall. |
Ellas no son bajas, ni altas. |
| Maria is wonderful. |
Maria es maravillosa. |
