Is my head going to Pop?....Fue and Era

Question

I have read the SpanishDict reference on how to use ser and estar. I have read many other references. I thought I understood the rules until I ran into ser (preterite and imperfect)....Now, crazy stuff comes out of my head....I don't know if eating is a condition, essence, or occupation. Mainly, I would like to know if ser can be used like estar in the phrases I have written below. Which phrase makes sense and which phrases do not make sense?

He is eating: está comiendo.....es comiendo,,,,, come.

He was eating: estuvo comiendo (at lunch).....estaba comiendo....fue comiendo (at lunch).....era comiendo.....comió (he ate or was eating at lunch).....comía (he was eating).

He was eaten (by an alligator): estuvo comido (at lunch).....estaba comido.....fue comido (at lunch).....era comido (for an undetermined length of time).

Head pop? Join the club - but keep at it and it will "come" to you. - ian-hill, Oct 1, 2010

Hey, I wonder which of our heads would roll faster down an inclined plane...yours or mine!! - Echoline, Oct 1, 2010

I love it. Thanks - root1, Oct 1, 2010

Answer 1

You ALWAYS use estar with the present participle (like comiendo) to form the progressive tenses. NEVER ser. It's a verb conjugation, and has nothing to do with descriptions or states of being. Estoy comiendo, estaba comiendo, estuviera comiendo, etc.

Now, when you're using the past participle as an adjective (like comido), you're back in ser vs. estar land, and those rules apply. It's just like any other adjective.

Thank you - root1, Oct 1, 2010

Answer 2

You might want to check out this article on ser/estar and passive 'se'- it's got a few good explanations that helped me!

Thank you - root1, Oct 1, 2010