👉 How to know when to use Ser or Estar? What’s the difference between them?
– Easy Spanish grammar lesson with examples –
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The verbs “ser” and “estar” in Spanish both mean the verb “to be” in English. However, they are used in different contexts.
It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between these two verbs and they are used in a variety of ways.
In this spanish grammar course, this difference is explained in a simple and clear way in order to use these verbs properly.
What is the verb “ser” used for in spanish?
“Ser” is mainly used for :
- Identify a person or thing :Â Es mi casa.
- Describe the characteristics of a person that do not change : Este niño es muy guapo.
- Specify a person’s nationality : Somos francesas.
- To indicate the profession :Â Soy logopeda.
- To evoke the intrinsic qualities of a thing or a place :Â Los perros son fieles.
- To indicate the matter :Â La pared es de madera.
- To indicate possession :Â Es mÃo.
- Tell the time :Â Son las dos de la tarde.
- Tell the date :Â Hoy, es 18 de junio de 2020.
- Specify a period of time :Â Es de noche.
- Situate events in space : La recepción es en mi casa.
In addition, “ser” is used in the passive form of process:
- Las cerezas no han sido pagadas.
We can also associate “ser” with the Spanish verb “existir” which means “to exist”.
What is estar used for in spanish?
On the other hand, “estar” is used for :
- Describe a person’s physical state : Esta personne está bastante gorda.
- Describe a person’s body posture : Â Estoy de pie.
- State a person’s condition : Â Hoy, estoy enfermo.
- State a person’s marital status : Está casado.
- Talk about a temporary job (followed by the preposition “de”) : Estoy de cajero.
- To indicate the temporary state of a thing or place : Está bastante sucio.
- To indicate the date (always with the verb in the first person plural and a preposition) : Estamos a 18 de junio de 2020.
- To situate oneself in time : Estamos en verano.
- To situate oneself in space :Â Estoy en tu casa.
“Estar” is used in the passive form of state:
- Las cerezas ya están pagadas.
It is also used in verbal periphrases:
- -¿Estás comiendo? -SÃ, estoy comiendo algunas cerezas.
Finally, “estar” is associated with the verb “encontrarse” which means “to meet (each other)”.
Thus, “ser” and “estar” are two verbs with some nuances in their use and meaning.
Before forming a sentence in Spanish that contains the verb “to be” in English, then it is important to question the meaning of the sentence in order to use the correct verb.
– Ser or Estar – Practice online –
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