3.4: Uses of ser and estar
- Page ID
- 251085
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Spanish Grammar (See webpage for complete content)
25. Uses of ser and estar
A. SER, from the Latin essere associated with the word essence, is used:
A1. to identify or define a subject (to say what something is):
El hermano es ingeniero. Es a ella a quien busco. Esto es un problema.
Este poema es para mi abuelo. El programa es sobre arte.
A2. with de to denote origin, material, or ownership:
Es de madera. Es de Panamá. Es de Juan. Son de la clase alta.
A3. only with adjectives that denote essential or defining qualities (including pobre, rico, joven, viejo.):
Nueva York es grande. Voy a ser rico.
A4. in expressions of time, dates, and for quantities:
Son las tres y media. Hoy es jueves dos de marzo. Son treinta dólares.
A5. in impersonal expressions:
Es posible saber eso. Es importante cuidar la salud.
For the use of ser with past participle (passive voice), see §41.
B. ESTAR, from the Latin stare associated with the words state and station, is used:
B1. to express location [ubicación] (to say where something is):
El profesor no está aquí. El problema está en su actitud. Panamá está al sur de Centroamérica.
BUT: Use ser to describe where an event is taking place: El concierto es aquí.
B2. with some adjectives and all adverbs, to describe states and conditions or a change in a characteristic:
Está bien. Están tristes porque el perro está muerto.
Estamos interesados en el tema. El país está en una situación difícil.
El rojo está de moda (in fashion). Las ventanas están cerradas.
B3. with a present participle* to express a continuing action:
Estamos viajando. Van a estar durmiendo.
*the present participle in English (-ing form of a verb) is the equivalent of the -ndo form, called gerundio in Spanish.
For the use of estar with past participle (states), see §26.
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estar listo/a ser lista/o | to be ready (state) to be bright (defining quality) | ¿Estás lista, María? María es muy lista. |
estar aburrido ser aburrido | to be bored (state) to be boring (defining quality) | Estoy aburrido con esta novela. Esta novela es muy aburrida. |