5.8: Ser versus estar
- Page ID
- 44563
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)As we have learned, ser and estar are both verbs meaning “To be.”
However, each is used in specific situations and they are not interchangeable.
Ser is used with inherent characteristics and identity.
Milagros es baja, rubia y bonita. Es psicóloga. ¡Es muy inteligente!
Estar is used with states of being and location*.
Antonio está muy aburrido porque está en una reunión.
*An exception to location is the location of an event (use ser).
El concierto es en el auditorio.
Ser is for who you are, Estar is for how you are.
A popular misconception is that ser is permanent and estar is temporary. While this may serve as a guideline, there are too many exceptions to rely on this as a rule.
Por ejemplo: Elvis está muerto.
Dead is pretty permanent, no? In Spanish, we look at life and death as states of being, which require the use of estar.
Por ejemplo: Mi mamá está enferma. Tiene la esclerosis múltiple.
While Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic illness, which one might conceptualize as being permanent, illness—short or long-term—is considered a state of being (a condition) in Spanish, which will also use estar.
Por ejemplo: Mi hermano está loco.
Students often like to describe people as loco (crazy), especially when it comes to friends and family, whether it be crazy as in “fun,” crazy as in “wild,” or crazy as in “unstable” or experiencing a state of mental illness (which, if either of these is the case, it is disrespectful and unkind to use the word crazy or loco). In any event, even if you consider this to be an inherent or permanent characteristic of a person, loco is considered a state of being and requires the use of estar in Spanish.
We know we use ser with personality and physical characteristics when describing a person, but we can also use estar to say that someone looks or seems especially ________ today.
Por ejemplo: Arturo es guapo. Arturo is handsome.
Arturo está muy guapo hoy. Arturo is looking especially handsome today.
Emilia es juguetona. Emilia is playful.
Emilia está muy juguetona hoy. Emilia is acting especially playful today.
Remembering the uses for these verbs can be easier with this simple mnemonic device: TIE SALE
Ser
Time
La clase de español es a las nueve y media.
Hoy es lunes.
Identity & Inherent characteristics
Los González son cubanos.
Mi abuela es católica.
Miguel Ángel es cómico.
Las sillas son de madera.
Mi hermana y yo somos altas.
Events
La fiesta es en casa de Alma.
La graduación es en el auditorio.
More specific uses for ser, which can generally fit under these categories:
Physical characteristics, personality traits, origin, nationality, religion, gender, material, color, size, profession, relationship to others, political affiliation, possession, and impersonal expressions such as: es interesante que… and es importante que...
Estar
States of being
Yo estoy muy contento.
Mi mamá está enferma.
El perro está asustado.
Actions
Los niños están jugando en el patio.
(Present Progressive)
Location
Mi apartamento está en el centro.
Mi universidad está en la Florida.
(Exception: location of events uses ser)
Especially
Joselito está muy guapo porque hoy es la boda de su tía y él es el portador de los anillos.
More specific uses for estar, which can generally fit under these categories:
Physical or emotional states, feelings, emotions, conditions, moods, illness, marital state, alive or dead, on-going action using the present progressive, location (except events), and seeming “especially ________”
Actividad 24
¿Cómo cambia? Discuss how the meaning changes for the sentences below based on whether ser or estar is used.
1. Mi profesora de química es aburrida. VS. Mi profesora de química está aburrida.
2. Las manzanas son verdes. VS. Las manzanas están verdes.
3. Yo soy feliz. VS. Yo estoy feliz.
Isabel y Victor son niños felices. Hoy están contentos porque están jugando.
Actividad 25
¿Ser o estar? Look for clues in each sentence, then decide if ser or estar should be used. Circle the correct option.
1. Mi hijo es / está aburrido porque le quité (I took away) su celular.
2. Natalia y Lucas son / están cansados porque es tarde.
3. Mis perros son / están grandes.
4. Manuela y yo somos / estamos de Paraguay.
5. Seattle es / está en el estado de Washington.
6. Erika es / está mi sobrina.
7. Ustedes son / están bien, ¿no?
8. Tú eres / estás uruguayo, ¿verdad?
9. La fiesta es / está en casa de Ana María.
Actividad 26
Rellenar el espacio. Decide if ser or estar is appropriate for each sentence, then conjugate to fill the blank and complete the sentence.
1. ¿________ tú de los Estados Unidos?
2. Mi bolso (purse) ________ de cuero (leather).
3. Mi carro ________ en el garaje.
4. Iván ________ piloto.
5. Olivia y Héctor ________ novios y ellos ________ muy felices juntos (together).
Actividad 27
Preguntas personales. Answer the following personal questions using ser and estar.
1. ¿Están muy ocupados tus amigos?
2. ¿Cómo estás hoy?
3. ¿Cómo eres tú?
4. ¿Están vivos todos tus héroes?
5. ¿Cuál es el nombre de una persona que está muerta, pero a quien admiras mucho?
6. ¿Eres reservad@ o extrovertid@?
MEANING CHANGERS
There are some adjectives that can be used with ser and estar, but their meaning changes depending on which verb you use.
Used with ser Used with estar
Aburrido/a/o/s/as To be boring To be bored
Verde(s) To be green in color To be unripe
Maduro/a/o/s/as To be mature To be ripe
Listo/a/o/s/as To be smart To be ready
Rico/a/o/s/as To be rich To be tasty
Guapo, feo, bonito, etc.* Inherent traits To look especially ________.
*make whichever adjective you use agree in gender & number
Actividad 28
¡A escribir! Write a sentence for each of the photos you see, using either ser or estar.
1.________ 
2.________ 
3.________
4.________ 