Transcript 31. Spanish 101 Ser versus Estar Rules Review

Ser versus Estar
Expressing to be
Expressing to be
There are two Spanish verbs that mean to be:
ser and estar.
They are not interchangeable; the meaning that the
speaker wishes to convey determines their use.
In this chapter, you will review the uses of ser that
you already know and learn some new ones.
Remember to use estar to express location and to
ask how someone is feeling. You will learn more
about the uses of estar in capítulo 5.
Some basic language functions of ser are
presented here. You have used or seen all of
them already in this previous chapters.
Both SER and ESTAR mean to be
Yo soy
versus
Yo estoy
Therefore you must learn when to use one
versus the other
Conjugating the verb SER
Yo
soy
Tú
eres
él
Ella
Usted
es
es
es
Nosotros
Nosotras
somos
somos
Vosotros
Vosotras
sois
sois
Ellos
Ellas
Ustedes
son
son
son
SER- Rules
The rules are extensive!
To identify
family.
To describe
profession or
occupation
To express
nationality
To tell what
material
something is made
of
Origin
Generalization
With para to tell
for whom
something is
intended
To tell day, date,
time, or season
Possession
To tell religious
or political
affiliation
Where and when
an event takes
place
To describe an
inherent, innate,
or expected
quality.
Rule #1 Uses of ser

To tell time, date, day, or season.
Son las siete de la tarde.
Es temprano.
Es la una y cuarto.
Es verano.
Hoy es el 18 de noviembre.
Es jueves.
Rule #2

With de, to express possession
It is Carla’s dog.
They are Susan’s notebooks.
It is Sra. Monroy’s classroom.
Es el perro de Carla.
Son los cuadernos de Susan.
Es la clase de la Sra. Monroy.
* Note: de + el = del
It is Mr. Hernandez’s book.
It is Roberto’s pencil.
Es el libro del Sr. Hernandez.
Es el lápiz de Roberto.
Rule #3
To identify profession or occupation.
(Profession, job, ...)
Yo soy médico.
Alicia y yo somos policías.
La doctora Ramos es profesora.
Juan es un estudiante.

Rule #4

With de to describe origen
Nosotros somos de los Estados Unidos.
Yo soy de México.
¿De dónde eres?
Chad y Michelle son de Glenview
Matt es de Park Ridge.
La mochila es de Nordstrom.
Rule #5 Uses of ser

To express nationality
Yolanda es mexicana.
Raquel y Juan son españoles.
Chan es chino.
*nationality adjectives are not capitalized.
Rule #6 Uses of ser
With de to tell what material something is made of



Lana
Algodón
Seda
La blusa es de seda.
Los pantalones son de algodón.
El suéter es de lana.
Rule #7 Uses of ser

To tell religious or political affiliation
Mi amigo es católico.
El estudiante es demócrata.
Ellos son republicanos.
Rule #8

Destination: With para to tell for whom or
what something is intended.
El lápiz es para Hector.
-¿Para quién es la mochila?
-Es para tu hermano.
Rule #9
To express generalizations (only es)
Also known as Impersonal expressions.
Es importante estudiar.
No es necesario hablar en la biblioteca.
Es práctico.
Es tonto.
Es fascinante.
Es posible.
Es una lata.

Rule #10 To identify family
To describe familial relationships
Pedro es el abuelo.
Marta es mi tía.
Roberto y Juan son mis hermanos.
Rule #11 Uses of ser
Location of an event: saying where a party,
concert, class or event takes place
El concierto es en el Sears Center.
El partido es en Soldier Field.
Mi fiesta es en mi casa.
La boda es en la iglesia.
Answers the questions: Where does it take place?
SER
Where does the graduation take place?
La graduación es (is taking place) en el auditorio.
ESTAR
Where is the auditorium?
El auditorio está (is located) en la universidad.
Wrong:
La graduación está (is located) en el auditorio.
El auditorio es (is taking place) en la universidad. .
SER
Where is Pedro’s party taking place?
La fiesta es (is taking place) en Maggiano’s.
ESTAR
Where is Maggiano’s?
Maggiano’s está (is located) en Naperville.
Wrong:
La fiesta está (is located) en Maggiano’s.
Maggiano’s es (is taking place) en Naperville.
Rule #12
To describe people and things
To describe an innate or permanent condition,
trait, characteristic.

Soy sentimental.
Danny Devito es bajo.
El coche es viejo.
Shaquille O’Neil es alto.
ESTAR also means to be
Conjugating the verb ESTAR
Yo
estoy
Tú
estás
él
Ella
Usted
está
está
está
Nosotros
Nosotras
estamos
estamos
Vosotros
Vosotras
estáis
estáis
Ellos
Ellas
Ustedes
están
están
están
ESTAR- Rules
To tell location or To describe health
spatial
relationships
With adjectives to
describe physical
states and
conditions
With certain
weather
expressions
To describe
emotional states
In a number of
fixed expressions
With the present
participle to form
the present
progressive tense.
Result of actions
(past participles)
To help you remember
When you wish upon estar, know how you
feel and where you are.
Rule #1 Uses of estar
To tell the location of a place, building, landmark,
or any moving object like a person.
Marco está es la clase.
La escuela está en St. Charles.
La clase está en Oakton.
¿Dónde está Michelle?
Chicago está en Illinois.
To tell spatial relationships.
Detrás de
Delante de
El gato está detrás del sofá.
El perro está delante del sofá.
Rule #2 To describe health


Yo estoy enfermo.
Yo no estoy bien.
Rule #3 With physical states
and conditions
La ropa está limpia.
Yo estoy cansado.
Las ensaladas están preparadas.
Rule #4 Emotional States

Ellos están frustrados.

Mi amigo está aburrido.

Tú estás contento.
Rule #5 With certain weather
expressions

Está nublado.
Rule #6 In a number of fixed
expressions


Estar de acuerdo
Estar bien.
Rule #7 Present Progressive

With present participle to form the present
progressive tense
Yo estoy hablando.
Ellos están escribiendo.
Rule #8: Results of actions
You did not learn this in Spanish 101.
But to say:
The store is closed.
La tienda está cerrada.
The pages are organized.
Las páginas están organizadas.
You are forming the –ed version of the verb =
past participle.
ser versus estar
Non-negotiables!!!
Ser must always be used to
tell time….
Estar is always used for
telling location…
Ser is always used for
possession… etc.
Why do they call it versus?
Both SER AND ESTAR
can be used with an adjective to describe a
noun.
However, the choice is will create a very
specific image in the listener.
In other words, you are creating a meaning
depending on the verb you use.
Ser with adjectives
Ser is used with adjectives that describe the
fundamental qualities of a person, place, or
thing.
Danny Devito es bajo.
Chicago es grande.
Estar with adjectives
Estar is used with adjectives to express certain
conditions or observations that are true at a
given moment but that do not describe the
inherent qualities of a noun.
Estoy aburrido.
Estoy cansada.
estar or ser can be used with
adjectives p 140
Abierto
Aburrido
Alegre
Cansado
Cerrado
congelado
Contento
Desordenado
enfermo
Furioso
Limpio
Loco
Nervioso
Ocupado
Ordenado
Preocupado
Seguro
Sucio
triste
Ser and estar with adjectives
Many adjectives can be with either ser or estar,
depending on what the speaker intends to
communicate. In general, when to be implies
looks, feels, or appears, estar is used.
Yo soy loco.
Yo estoy loco.
Compare
Yo soy rebelde.
Yo estoy rebelde.
With the word sucio
Miguel está sucio.
Miguelito es sucio.
With the adjective verde
Los agaucates son verdes
Los plátanos están verdes.
With the adjective Bonita