I'm not perfect (Soy/Estoy)

Question

"I am not perfect"

Every once in a while, this ser/estar thing trips me up. Anyway, how would one say this?

No soy perfecta.

No estoy perfecta.

I'm guessing the bolded one because "estoy" makes me think along the lines of someone's mood or temporary state. Like, "I'm not doing good (at the moment)" or "I'm not feeling 'perfect' "... Sorry for any confusion and thanks for your help

P.S. What I really want to say is "I'm not perfect at this (i.e., Spanish)." Would that be "No soy perfecta en eso/español"?

Great question! - 0066c384, Mar 22, 2011

Thanks :) - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011

Yes... great question:) - FELIZ77, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 1

I'd go with:

No soy perfecta (because it's your character, not a passing condition)

Thank you. That's a good way to look at it. Somehow, in my head, I got confused thinking "I'm not perfect at it right now, but later yada-yada... so, 'temporal'?"...smh, Thanks for clearing that up. - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011

I have the same problem. I am accurate about 50% of the time. :) - 0066c384, Mar 22, 2011

Lol - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 2

You are right, it is "No soy perfecta". By the way "No soy perfecta en español" sounds strange to me althought it is correct.... I would say "Mi español no es perfecto"

Cheers Jaime

Thank you. You know, I thought it might sound strange; even in English, "I'm not perfect in/at Spanish" sounds a bit strange, to me at least. But "I'm not perfect at this/that/it", I've heard before. - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 3

You could also say:

No puedo hablar español perfectamente, todavía

= I cannot speak Spanish perfectly yet

But, it would be better to say:

No puedo hablar español, con fluidez, todavía

= I cannot speak Spanish fluently, yet

It would be better to use the last sentence Although it is correct that ser is used for permenant characteristics what you would like to be able to really say, if I have understood your post correctly, is more closely related to your ability to speak/use Spanish perfectly rather than the perfection of your character as a person. I realize that some people here may think that I am splitting hairs ( ie : being pedantic) I consider the distinction to be important.

I hope this helps

Thanks, Feliz for your examples. Me ayudarán mucho... pues ya me lo han hecho. - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011

Oh, also, you are right in thinking that I was more concerned with perfection of speech than character, but I suppose that it all ties in somehow... like quality (ser) vs. condition (estar).... I guess? - Goldie_Miel, Mar 22, 2011