do you use ser or estar when you are saying my television is broken?

Question

ser or estar? ex. my television is broken.

Answer 1

Ok, you guys saying the difference in Ser and Estar have to do with temporary vs. permanent things are going to get in trouble around here. Let me help you before you do.

The article by Lazarus on the subject says that Ser is used to "Classify, Identify and Define"

And that Estar is used for situations in time and space.

Think of it that way, because there are too many exceptions to the temporary vs. permanent.

That is very helpful. Thanks Greg. - Seitheach, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 2

I vote estar as being broken is a short-term condition.

Now, if we´re saying murió, or dead, that´s a whole different thing. That is ser.

No. It's está. - Goyo, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 3

Está roto

está roto - Izanoni1, SEP 30, 2009

Thanks, I edited to add the accent. I was being lazy. - 0007edc8, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 4

You use esta, becuause that it is roto is an assumed temporary state. It can be fixed. Now...if you fix it or trash it, is another story.

esta != "está" - Izanoni1, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 5

I vote ir

"Voy a comprar nuevo."

By the way - is it proper Spanish translation of "I'm going to buy a new one"? - Behemoth, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 6

Where's the beach? (I just had to throw that in as a nod to that person who always answers in some odd-ball way of the way not even in the same neighboorhood as the question)

Not ALWAYS - I make some exceptions now and then ;) - Behemoth, SEP 30, 2009

Answer 7

my television is broken would be no esta funcionando because it is not a permanent condition, you can fix it. Yo soy viejo (soy is the yo version of ser) would be correct in that example because ser is a permanent condition.

actually no esta funcionando means that it isn't working but same message right? - Vince_Peña, SEP 30, 2009

who talks like that anyway? - ChamacoMalo, SEP 30, 2009

Just dandote las cuernos, Vince! - ChamacoMalo, SEP 30, 2009

Just "No functiona" is the right way to say that. - Goyo, SEP 30, 2009

Oye!!!! Sabido Gigante ya esta y me televisor esta roto! Por Dios! Aye Dios, que voy a hacer? - ChamacoMalo, SEP 30, 2009

Just a style thing....just like the people down south use different words than the north. The word you use is your personal choice. ;-) - ChamacoMalo, SEP 30, 2009