congugate the verb to be

Question

Estar and Ser:when to use which? For example: Como estas?=how are you?

Conjugate - ian-hill, Jan 25, 2011

¿Cómo estás? - ian-hill, Jan 25, 2011

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum. That question is number one on the hit charts around here. There's even a section here in the reference guide on the topic, which is quite large.

Answer 2

 There is a website I use for all of my Spanish questions. 

Here is a link to the lesson on SER vs. ESTAR.
Just remember not to over simplify SER and ESTAR.

http://www.drlemon.com/Grammar/servsestar.html

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Ser - means = to be

I am sure = Estoy(estar) seguro

seguro, -a adjective 1. safe (sin peligro)

* ¿es éste un lugar seguro, -a? -> is it safe here?
* sobre seguro, -a -> safely, without risk
* es una inversión segura -> it's a safe investment
* prefiero ir sobre seguro, -a -> I'd rather play (it) safe

1. secure (protegido, estable)

   • un trabajo seguro, -a -> a secure job

2. reliable (fiable)

3. definite, certain (indudable, cierto)

   • su nombramiento es seguro, -a -> he's certain to be given the post
   • ya sabemos la fecha segura de su llegada -> we've now got a definite date for his arrival
   • lo puedes dar por seguro, -a -> you can be sure of it
   • tener por seguro, -a que -> to be sure that

4. sure (confiado)

   • estar seguro, -a de algo -> to be sure about something

masculine noun 6. insurance (contrato)

* seguro, -a de accidentes -> accident insurance
* seguro, -a del coche -> car insurance
* seguro, -a de desempleo -> unemployment benefit
* seguro, -a de enfermedad -> health insurance
* seguro, -a de hogar -> home insurance
* seguro, -a de incendios -> fire insurance
* seguro, -a de invalidez o incapacidad -> disability insurance
* seguro, -a médico -> medical insurance
* seguro, -a a todo riesgo/a terceros -> comprehensive/third party insurance
* seguro, -a de vida -> life insurance

1. (informal)

   • el seguro, -a -> ? the National Health (la seguridad social) (British), ? Medicaid (United States)
   • ese tratamiento no lo cubre el seguro, -a -> ? you can't get that treatment on the National Health o (British) Medicaid (United States)

2. safety device (dispositivo) ; safety catch (de armas)

3. safety pin (imperdible) (CAm, Mexican Spanish) adverb

4. for sure, definitely

   • seguro, -a que vendrá -> she's bound to come

Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited

seguro [say-goo-ro] noun 1. Permission, leave, license. (m) 2. Insurance of goods on sea or land. (m) 3. Click, stop, detent, pawl, ratchet; tumbler of a lock. (Mecahnic) (m)

* Compañía de seguros -> insurance company
* Cámara u oficina de seguros -> insurance office
* Póliza de seguro -> policy of insurance
* Premio de seguro -> premium of insurance
* A buen seguro -> certainly, indubitably
* De seguro -> assuredly
* Sobre seguro -> confidently
* Hacer el seguro -> to insure

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Estar intransitive verb 1. to be (hallarse)

* ¿dónde está la llave? -> where is the key?
* ¿está María? — no, no está -> is Maria there? — no, she's not here

1. (con fechas)

   • ¿a qué estamos hoy? -> what's the date today?
   • hoy estamos a martes/a 15 de julio -> today is Tuesday/the 15 of July
   • estábamos en octubre -> it was October

2. to stay, to be (quedarse)

   • estaré un par de horas y me iré -> I'll stay a couple of hours and then I'll go

3. to be ready (hallarse listo)

   • ¿aún no está ese trabajo? -> is that piece of work still not ready?

4. to be

   • estar a ->
   • estamos a veinte grados (expresa valores, grados) -> it's twenty degrees here
   • el dólar está a 10 pesos -> the dollar is at 10 pesos
   • están a dos euros el kilo -> they're two euros a kilo

also:

* estar en -> to be, to lie in (consistir)
* el problema está en la fecha -> the problem is the date

also:

* estar para -> to be (there) for; (servir) to be in the mood for (expresa disposición)
* para eso están los amigos -> that's what friends are for
* para eso estoy -> that's what I'm here for
* no estoy para bromas -> I'm not in the mood for jokes

1. (+ infinitivo)

   • estar por ->
   • eso está aún por escribir (faltar) -> that has yet to be written
   • eso está por ver -> that remains to be seen

2. (+ infinitivo)

   • estar por ->
   • estar por hacer algo (a punto de) -> to be on the verge of doing something
   • estuve por pegarle -> I was on the verge of hitting him

3. (+ infinitivo)

   • estar sin ->
   • estoy sin dormir desde ayer (expresa negación) -> I haven't slept since yesterday
   • está sin acabar -> it's not finished

verb copulativo 9. (+ adjetivo) to be (expresa cualidad, estado)

* los pasteles están ricos -> the cakes are delicious
* esta calle está sucia -> this street is dirty

1. (+adverbio)

   • ¡ya está bien! -> that's enough (of that)!
   • este traje te está bien (ropa) -> this suit looks good on you (peninsular Spanish)

2. (+preposición) to be (expresa estado)

   • estar de mudanza -> to be (in the process of) moving
   • estamos de suerte -> we're in luck
   • estar de vacaciones -> to be on holiday
   • estar de viaje -> to be on a trip
   • estar en uso -> to be in use
   • estar en guardia -> to be on guard
   • estamos sin agua -> we have no water, we're without water

3. (+ preposición)

   • estoy contigo -> I'm on your side
   • estar por -> to be in favor of

also:

* estar de -> to be (expresa ocupación)
* está de cajera -> she's a checkout girl

1. (+ verbo)

   • estar que ->
   • está que muerde porque ha suspendido (expresa actitud) -> he's furious because he failed

verb auxiliary 14. (+ gerundio) to be (expresa duración)

* están golpeando la puerta -> they're banging on the door

1. (+ participio) to be

   • está terminado -> it's finished

estarse pronomial verb 1. to stay (permanecer)

* te puedes estar con nosotros unos días -> you can stay o spend a few days with us
* ¡estate quieto! -> keep still!

Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited

estar [es-tar'] verb neuter 1. To be in a place (permanecer). (n) 2. To understand or comprehend (comprensión). (n)

* Estoy en lo que Vd. me dice -> I understand what you tell me

1. To be in favor of, to answer for (acuerdo). (n)

2. To be of the opinion. (n)

   • Estoy en que -> I am of the opinion that

3. To be: an auxiliary verb, derived from the Latin stare, to stand, and used always with reference to existing or being in a place. (n)

   • Estar escribiendo -> to be writing, 6. To undertake, to oblige or subject oneself to

4. To stand. (n)

5. To cost (precio) 9. (n)

   • En eso está -> in this it consists, on this it depends

6. With the preposition por and the infinitive of some verbs it sometimes means that something is not done, and sometimes that something will be done immediately. (n)

   • Estar po -> or para partir, to be ready to set out

7. With a and some nouns it signifies to be obliged or disposed to execute what the noun signifies. (n)

8. With con and a person's name, to live in company with. (n)
9. To see another in order to treat with him of a matter. (n)

10. With de to be executing a thing or understanding in it, in whatever way. (n)

    • Estar de gaita -> to be merry, in high spirits
    • Estar algo por suceder -> to expect something to happen
    • Estar a erre -> to be doing something with the utmost care
    • Estar alerta -> to be on the watch, to be vigilant
    • Estar bajo de llav -> or cerrado con llave, to be under lock and key
    • Estar de buen humor -> to be in good humor or spirits
    • Estar de mal humor -> to sulk, to be angry
    • Estar de pi -> or en pie; estar levantado or derecho, to stand
    • Estar de prisa -> to be in haste, to haste, to hasten
    • Estar de por medio -> to interpose, to mediate
    • Estar sobre sí -> to be tranquil or serene; to be greatly elated
    • Estar para ello -> to be ready, to be disposed to do anything
    • ¡Dónde estamos -> An expression of admiration or disgust at what we see or hear
    • Estar bien con -> to have regard for a person, to be in concord with him
    • Estar bien una cosa -> to suit, to agree, to fit
    • Estar mal con -> to have a bad opinion of
    • Estar mal -> not to suit, to show bad looks
    • ¿Está Vd.? or Estamos -> Are you aware
    • Estar con el pie en el aire -> to be unsettled
    • Está enfermo -> he is ill
    • Dos vueltas más y ya está -> two more turns and that's it
    • Para las cinco estará terminado -> it will be finished by 5 o'clock
    • Las uvas están a 50 pesos -> grapes are 50 pesos
    • Estar de vacaciones -> to be on vacation
    • Está por llover -> it's about to rain
    • Están sin vender -> they remain unsold, -vr
    • Estarse parado or quieto -> to stand still

With the preposition en, it signifies cause, motive. Have you understood well? To be detained; to stay (quedarse).

Answer 4

Hi Teresa, welcome.

If you search, using the search box on the Answers page, for this theme you'll find a whole heap of threads where it has been discussed before.

Cheers,

Alex