I need my hand held for ser vs. estar

Question

I know Ser vs. Estar has been done to death but I think I still don´t really get it. It´s the one thing I´m constantly tripping up over all day. Despite looking at the reference section, doing away with the "permanent/temporary" rule, and coming to grips with "always estar for where, without exception", I´m -still- not fully understanding how or why to use it. Is there an ACTIVITY around where I can practise and learn it properly? Or an internet page I can´t find where it´s clearly spelt out for idiots?

You are not alone Mistermouse! - pacofinkler, Jul 28, 2011

Don't we all? :) - MaryMcc, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 1

Hey Mister Mouse - I think you'll like this one you get excellent instant feed back with reasons why you were right or wrong

Practice with ser and estar

PERFECTO. Exactamente lo que quería, muchas muchas gracias guapa xx - mistermouse, Jul 29, 2011

lol de nada amigo :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 31, 2011

Answer 2

Now I'm confused. Where is the party? The party is in Mariana's house. So why not esta? - elainepnj hace 6 minutos

Hi, Elaine: "Ser" is used when talking about the location of events.

Spanish.about.com

Although the Spanish verb estar typically is used to describe where a person or thing is located, when speaking of events ser must be used. Both verbs typically can be translated as "to be." But if the verb can also be translated as "to take place" or "to be held," ser must be used.

muchas gracias - elainepnj, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 3

....."always estar for where, without exception"

Not exactly true.

La fiesta es en la casa de Mariana.

Also,

Have you seen this article by Lazarus?

Yes I have, I was just reading it before I posted :( by the way I think that´s one of the best I´ve seen but it could really do with losing the question marks and highlighting the correct sentences. Can we edit reference entries? - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

Ah never mind, Sonrisa just posted the cleaned-up version. Thank you for your guidance x - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

Now I'm confused. Where is the party? The party is in Mariana's house. So why not esta? - elainepnj, Jul 28, 2011

Do we need invitations? - pacofinkler, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 4

.... what do I use when describing something, not someone?

"Ser" is used for descriptions of both people and things --

La mesa es grande/verde/de madera/etc.

Jen es inteligente/bonita/alta

oh okay, the article says someone, so I thought... that makes much more sense though. I think it´s becoming clearer. - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 5

Span¡shD!ct F A F Q: Frequently Asked Forum Questions regarding ser and estar

Hola mistermouse,

Try reading the link above. I, along with the help of Lazarus and JulianChivi, have created this article.

I hope it helps you!

oh, thank you! This is Lazarus´ article all cleaned up and pretty, yes? It still leaves a couple of questions unanswered for me. For example, what do I use when describing something, not someone? - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

:) Something...like a house? That depends. If you are describing how it looks, use "ser" (La casa es grande). But... - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 28, 2011

...if you are saying it's location, use "estar" (La casa está a la izquierda de la tienda) - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 6

The location of a thing/being = "estar"

The location of an event = "ser"

Answer 7

You might want to have a sharpened stake and a crucifix handy when approaching ser or estar.

Hahaha! Thank you for your advice. - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

Un cruce de plata por supuesto - pacofinkler, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 8

This is a compilation on ser y estar, all the most important threads, articles etc.

And yes, there is a thread opened by me with corrections of course, to practise ser y estar.

I hope it is useful for you

Oh I hadn´t seen Paralee´s reference article, although now I´m confused whether la cena era delicioso/rico or estaba delicioso/rico. Thanks for the link ^^ - mistermouse, Jul 29, 2011

Answer 9

Don't forget about--

Soy estudiante (a temporary condition but we use "ser")

Está muerto (a permanent condition but we use "estar")

Soy estudiante is a description of a person so that´s fine, but muerto is a description too? Or is it just the one and only exception to the rule? - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

(If it´s just an exception, I´ll add it to the list above) - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

It's my understand (which could be wrong of course) that muerto is not exactly an exception. It more like a cultural/religious attitude towards dealth. - elainepnj, Jul 28, 2011

Perfect, that´s an exception. I´m just reading now that living is the other exception. I´ll edit my summary post. Thanks Elaine! - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 10

According to the RAE, estar, among other things, is used to describe a characteristic that is brought about by a change or transformation.

"se usa el verbo estar cuando la característica que se atribuye al sujeto es considerada por el que habla como el resultado de una acción, transformación o cambio, real o supuesto.."

Yes, estar muerto is permanent, but the reason estar is used is because of the transformation something or someone from alive to dead.

Another example is estar roto (to be broken). This can be confusing because if not fixed, something broken can also be permanently broken. Now, estar implies that the object used to be whole, but because of a certain process or event that happened to the object, it is now broken.

Fantastic answer, I wonder if there are others that fall into change/transformation... But this is more than enough to work with now, I´m so pleased ^u^ - mistermouse, Jul 29, 2011

Answer 11

Mariana and Sonrisa, let me shower you with gratitude for a moment because this is all a LOT clearer now. I owe you both a coffee. xx

Answer 12

Okay.

.

Ser: Descriptions (physical or characteristic) of anyone or anything

To talk about time, date, day, month,year

Describing origins of anyone or anything (material and immaterial)

Describing locations of events

Religion and relationships

Estar: Describing position or location of anyone or anything, except events.

For gerunds

Describing how someone is feeling

Dead or alive!

.

Is that right?

.

Estoy feliz porque la cena era delicioso. Es la una, es tarde. La muñeca está encima del escritorio, es de madera. Hay una fiesta con las otras muñecas, y la fiesta es debajo del escritorio. Estoy viva y Shakespeare está muerto. No soy católica pero creo que quiero ser casada. Pero no soy de este país. Estoy esperando para obtener el permisión pronto.

.

Buf, please tell me I´m at least close!

Very good, Mistermouse. - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 28, 2011

Just one thing that you should remember for "ser": it's used for occupations, too. - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 28, 2011

Really?? It´s all good? That is a magicfix! - mistermouse, Jul 28, 2011

I'm still learning, but to me, that looks very good! - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 13

Hmm... still no practice activities in anyone´s memory?