difference between the verb ser and ester
please tell me when all is ser and ester verbs used...i'm really confused...plz explain to me in detail the difference in both.
thankyou
3 Answers
Estar - not permanent ...location (where you are)
Ser - permanent ... boy, girl, time, job title
THE USE OF SER AND ESTAR
SER should be used for:
1) In a "who" situation. Ejemplo (example): Who is he? = ¿Quién es?
2) In a "what" situation. Ejemplos (examples): What is that? = ¿Qué es eso? It’s a chair = Es una silla
3) Characteristics (Permanent or semi-permanent) Ejemplos: We are tall = Somos grandes The house is made of stone = La casa es de piedra These men are English = Estos hombres son ingleses The door is red = La puerta es roja
4) Jobs and professions When jobs and professions are described. Ejemplos: My mum is a teacher = Mi madre es profesora My dad is a doctor = Mi padre es médico NOTE: No article is needed (un/una) before the profession is stated.
5) Possession When you are referring to a possession (whether it be yours or somebody else’s) Ejemplos: It is my car = Es mi coche It is not your book = No es tu libro
6) Time Relating to the time of day, the date and the season. Ejemplos: What time is it? = ¿Qué hora es? It is three o’clock = Son las tres What date is it? = ¿Qué fecha es? It’s the third of April = Es el tres de abril It is winter = Es invierno
7) Age SER is used in connection with "Joven" (Young) and "Viejo" (Old) Ejemplos: The girl is very young = La chica es muy joven The man is old = El hombre es viejo
8) Passive SER is used with the past participle (ado/ido) to create a passive (when the subject does not do the action). Ejemplos: The pencil was broken by the boy = La lapiz fue rota por el chico The plates are washed by the woman = Los platos son lavados por la mujer NOTE: The past participle (ado/ido) always agrees with the subject in a passive. i.e. La lapiz fue rota - but - los platos son lavados
ESTAR should be used for:
1) Location To refer to a place (expressing where someone/something is) Ejemplo: The shop is near the park = La tienda está cerca del parque
2) Temporary situations To refer to a temporary situation (e.g. an emotion - something which is not permanent Ejemplo: Today we are happy = Hoy estamos contentos
3) To form continuous tenses To form the present continuous tense (to describe when you are in the process of an action), you must use ESTAR + present participle (iendo/ando) Ejemplos: I am eating = Estoy comiendo He is speaking = Está hablando
4) Specific phrases Ejemplos: To be in favour of = Estar por To be about to do something = Estar para hacer algo
5) With a past participle (ado/ido) to express the result of a past action: To refer to a place (expressing where someone/something is) Ejemplo: The window is open = La ventana está abierta NOTE: The past participle must agree with the subject (i.e. la ventana está abierta
Read these first and then ask your questions.
