To be or not to be that is the Question.

Question

"¨To be or not to be".

Answer 1

"Ser o no ser, esa es la cuestión"

http://es.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hamlet - Benz, Mar 19, 2010

This is the correct answer. - Gekkosan, Mar 19, 2010

Answer 2

im thinking its "estar o no estar " or "ser o no ser" both verbs mean to be

"Ser o no Ser" - is the correct one. - ian-hill, Mar 19, 2010

Answer 3

I'm sure that "to be" is the hardest verb to translate and learn to use for English speakers, since English makes no distinction between "ser" and "estar". For Spanish speakers it is painfully obvious, and it's a sure way to detect a "gringo" (no disrespect meant to anyone!), since 98% of English speakers mess up sooner or later.

I don't have the technical know-how (or the time) to explain the usage of "ser y estar". I'm sure this must be covered in some other thread in this forum, since it's such an essential question. In any event, Benz's answer is the right one.

Answer 4

weird how you use esta muerta wen estar is used for temporary things.

Temporary/permanent is not a good basis for choosing. Read the reference article on ser/estar. - samdie, Mar 19, 2010

Answer 5

I think it would probably be estar. My reasoning is that the question is to be alive or not alive. Estar is used to describe being in those states, not ser. Está muerta, not es muerta. However, to use ser seems perfectly reasonable as well. lol.

Have you ever read Shakespiare?? Hamlet?? To be or not to be, that's the question is translated as "Ser o no ser, esa es la cuestión" :) - Benz, Mar 19, 2010