What's the difference between Ser & Estar?

Question

Ser & Estar are almost the same thing, right? What is the difference!?

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum. The different between ser and estar can be really confusing because they both mean "to be." However, they are used very differently.

Take a look at this lesson found in the Reference section on Ser vs. Estar.

¡Buena suerte!

• very good reccomendation - DJ_Huero Oct 19, 2009

Answer 2

Ser is more of a permanent to of "to be", where as Estar is more of a temporary. For instance, Soy de los Estados Unidos (I'm from the United States)....Estoy en mi casa (I'm in my house). You see the differences?

• The temporary/permanent "rule" is not a good one. For example, Nueva York esta en los Estados Unidos...pretty permanent for the use of estar, isn't it? - --Mariana-- Oct 19, 2009
• But you wouldn't use "esta". That's a permanent attribute, New York isn't going anywhere. Give the lesson a double look, unless I misunderstood it. Cause I just breezed over it myself. - DJ_Huero Oct 19, 2009
• Yes, you do use "estar" in my example. That's my point -- New York is permanent yet we use "estar." The temporary/permanent rule often doesn't work. - --Mariana-- Oct 19, 2009
• Ok, possibly I could understand for you New York example after reading the Location aspect in the lesson..BUt that's the ONLy time, all other permanent uses the verb "ser". - DJ_Huero Oct 19, 2009
• DJ, take a look at this lesson by Lazarus...it's good. http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100848/ser-y-estar-by-lazarus - --Mariana-- Oct 19, 2009
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Answer 3

In the Learn Spanish section it is lesson 1.11 if you have time to go through it.

Answer 4

This is a great link to a lesson by Lazarus, which states reasons why we don't use the "permanent/temporary rule" when deciding whether to use "estar" or "ser."

Ser vs. Estar

Answer 5

i like to use the saying "How you feel and where you are is when you use the verb estar"... but that is just a starting point.