Difference between: "Estoy" and "Soy"

Question

They apparently both mean "I am" or "I'm" but, I want to understand the full difference.

Answer 1

Estar vs. Ser

Good luck!

¡Muchas gracias! :D - 00a43ae4, Mar 30, 2010

Answer 2

I remember learning this..so I might be able to help..but I'm not quite sure. I think that soy is used to describe something permanent, like your name, or where you are from. For example, for your name you would say, "Soy Juan". Then, to describe where you're from,"Soy de Los Estados Unidos". I think estoy is used to describe something not so permanent, like a feeling that you have. If you were sad, you might say, "Estoy Triste." I hope this helps and I hope I'm right!

Horrible, counterproductive "rule". Read what Vaswati-Ghos posted! - samdie, Mar 30, 2010

Answer 3

Estar: is used to express geographic/ physical locations. ¿Dónde estás? Where r u? Estoy en el laboratorio. I am in the laboratory. Dónde está chile? Chile está en America del sur. Chile is in South America. 1. Is used to express a state or condition.(how) ¿Cómo está la sopa? How is the soup? La sopa está fría. The soup is cold. 2. Estar is used with the progressive tense. Qué estás comiendo? What r u eating? Estoy comiendo arroz. I am eating rice. 3. is used with many idiomatic expressions. Estar de acuerdo -to be in agreement. Estar de pie- to be standing.

Answer 4

If you are talking about "what" something is use ser. Like: what is she like? Ella es callada. She is quiet. 1. If u r talking about "how" something is use estar. like: how is she acting? Ella está callada. She is being quiet. 2. Ser is used to express the hour, day and date.¿Qué día es hoy? hoy es martés. 3. Ser is used to express ocupation. ¿Cuál es tu trabajo? soy estudiante. 4. Ser is used to express place of origin. ¿De dónde eres tú? where r u from? Soy de India. 5. To express nationality, religious. Soy indio. I'm an indian. Soy hindu. 6. To express relationship of one person to another. ¿Quién es Marta? Ella es mujer de Juan. She is Juans wife. 7. To express material something is made of.... ¿De qué material es la mesa? Whats the table made of? Es de madera. It's wood. 8. Ser is used with adjectives to express inherent , essential qualities. Vaswati es una chica sincera. Vaswati is a sincere gril. 9. Ser is used tell where an event is talking place. la película es en el cine. The movie is at the theatre.

Answer 5

Well, first of all you'll learn it only by studying again and again and practicing, and making writting exercises. I think it's not so easy to get it quickly. Good luck!