Using estar for descriptions???????

Question

My Spanish teacher told us a very, very weird condition in which estar shoulld be used. She said that if you were talking about a specific object to be described, you would use estar if you were "comparing" it to the likes of it. Does anybody know about this? Could you please help me better understand this rule?

Here's her example:

Chocolate cake is delicious. (you use es [general description, she said.]) This chocolate cake is delicious. (you use estar [you are "comparing" a specific chocolate cake to the likes of it.])

Answer 1

It would be great if you could provide some of the examples that are puzzling you.

Some uses of "estar" that apply to your question:

¡Ese bizcocho /tarta / torta de chocolate está buenísmo! - That chocolate cake is great!

¡Esa torta está mejor que la de ayer! - That cake is better than yesterday's!

Esa tarta está más rica que la de Francisco - that cake is tastier than Francisco's.

Were you thinking of something along those lines?

Yes, I meant something along those lines. When exactly do you apply that, though? - sonicteam4ever, Sep 30, 2010

Her examples did not puzzle me. I'm scared of this, because I do not know EXACTLY when to use it. - sonicteam4ever, Sep 30, 2010