What's the difference between ser and estar?
What's the difference between ser and estar?
3 Answers
Hi, Zero.
There are many differences, but if yu are a beginning student, this little jingle might help. Sing to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
"Twinkle, twinkle, little estar
how you feel and where you are.
In general, in beginning Spanish these are the uses of "estar". "Ser" will be used for your other sentences. Once again...this is a good rule of thumb for beginning Spanish!
They both mean to be but ( and this is a generalization) ser is used more for permanent things (Soy Austin. {I am always going to be Austin.} ) and estar is more for temporary things. (Estoy bien {I'm not always going to be bien}). so...
SER: Nationality, where you are from, who you are, descriptions.
ESTAR: emotion, temporary condition, location, etc.
However, ser is used for time (even though time is temporary)
Son las ocho y media**.
Hope this helped! 
If you hover over the "More" button in the top menu bar, and then click Reference, and then click "Spanish Grammar", you will find that this website has tons of useful reference article.
Luckily for you, the first one listed in the grammar section is ser vs. estar.
