does es mean you are?

Question

if you want to say you are in spanish can you just say es or do you have to say usted es?

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if it's part of a sentence yes that's fine, the 'usted' etc is not needed in fact it's better not to use it - but standing alone if you just wanted to say 'you are!' then no - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 14, 2010

Answer 1

It is my understanding that "you are" in Spanish can be expressed by using either ser or estar. If there are any grammar experts out there, you can correct me, but I think that locations and temporary conditions are estar things and permanant conditions and unchangeable conditions are a ser things. For example, es norteamericano, es colombiana, es flaco, está en la playa, está enojado, etc. As far as putting in the Usted, that's optional. You leave it in if you want to give "you" emphasis, or if you want to avoid ambiguity. Look up ser and estar in any grammar book and they''ll explain it better. Hope that helps.

that is a common way to explain ser and estar but I'm afraid it's fatally flawed :( está muerto - he is dead (pretty permanent) La reunión es en esta oficina. (the meeting is in the office (location/not permanent at all) I would recommend searching - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 14, 2010

for the thread by Lazarus which explains the CID method for ser etc :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 14, 2010

Answer 2

To answer your specific question, no, you do not need the "usted". In fact, not only is it not necessary, but it is generally not prefered.