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The verb TO BE is one of the obstacles that Spanish learners encounter when they start learning Spanish, since it has several equivalents in Spanish. In this post we are going to explain how to use "SER" and "ESTAR".

 

To use to be in Spanish, the easiest thing is to think of the verb "estar" first. You have to use the verb "estar" to express location (except to say where an event will take place, use "ser"), position, state and condition. Otherwise you must use the verb "ser".

 

    e.g.

• El banco "Del Comercio" está en la calle principal. (location)
• Los niños están sentados. (position)
• Mi abuelo está enfermo. (state)
• La mesa está sucia. (condition)

 

Estar is also used as an auxiliary verb with the present participle to form progressive tenses.

 

     e.g.

• Estoy trabajando (I am/I´m working)
• Estaba hablando (I was talking)
• Estuve buscando (I was looking for)
• Estaré durmiendo (I will be sleeping)

 

    Use the verb "Ser" to express:

• Origin > Él es de Canadá.
• Nationality > Él es canadiense.
• Characteristics > Ella es delgada, rubia y muy bonita.
• Time > son las dos de la tarde.
• Possession (to whom something belongs to) > Esa moto es de Juan.
• Generalizations > Es muy interesante, es difícil, es bueno, etc.
• Event location (where an event will take place) > La fiesta es en el club.

 

Ser is also used as an auxiliary verb to form the passive voice.

 

    e.g.

• El libro fue escrito por un escritor latinoamericano. (The book was written by a Latin American writer.)
• La oficina es atendida por la secretaria. (The office is staffed by the secretary.)

 

DO NOT USE “SER” OR “ESTAR” (to be) with the following words. Use the verb “TENER” (tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen).

 

• Hambre > hungry
• Sed > thirsty
• Frío > cold
• Calor > hot
• Sueño > sleepy
• Prisa > in a hurry
• La culpa > guilty
• Paciencia > patient
• Cuidado > careful
• Razón > right
• Vergüenza > shame, embarrassed
• Pena > embarrassed, shameful
• Miedo > afraid
• Celos > jealousy

 

    e.g.

• La abuela tiene frío. (Grandma is cold.)
• Yo tengo hambre. (I am hungry.)
• ¿Tienes sed? (Are you thirsty?)