when you use ser versus estar?

Question

I am not sure when to use SER - es and when to use ESTAR - está. I believe SER form is for descriptions like bonito and ESTAR for locations, emotions? I do know that using the wrong form changes the meaning. For example: Ella es aburrida - She is boring
Ella está aburrida - She is bored

Is this correct? I don't want to call someone boring when they are bored.

Welcome to the forum, :) - 00494d19, Oct 3, 2011

and have vote for a good 1st post. :) - ian-hill, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 1

Great, pilot, your attempt is correct.-)

Look at this thread for anything you need to know about ser y estar.

Answer 2

I found the video lesson on this to be very helpful. You should check it out. The gist of it is that estar is used to describe temporary states of being and ser is used to describe more long term states of being. Below are some english examples to help you see the difference:

I am studying (estar). I am studious (ser).

He is at the office (estar). He is a businessman (ser).

She is bored (estar). She is boring (ser).

This is a vast oversimplification, but it gives you the idea. For situations like the one you gave (bored v. boring), use estar for bored because she is bored right now, but use ser for boring because she is always boring.

I hope this helps. Definitely check the video lesson. It helped me a lot and is way more in depth then this explanation.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Simply, it can be placed in one rule: "Ser is permanant, and estar is temporary." There are few exceptions, however... Estar is used for location. "I am here." Yo estoy aquí. That's temporary, right? Soon you'll get up and get some coffee, or go to school, or work, or get your cellphone.

BUT... "The school is to the right." La escuela es a la derecha. And you say, "Hey! You said estar is temporary! That school isn't going to grow legs and run!" Ha! But that's what I told you, "It has exceptions." Pay attention! Estar is always used for location, even though it is not always temporary.

For ser, a permanant thing is your height. I am tall. Soy alta. The kid is tall. The niño es alto. Wait! You say, what if the kid grows five inches? Do I use estar because that little boy isn't full grown? Ugh, I say, "You are thinking way too much into it! This is an exception!" Hope it helps...

Answer 4

Simply, it can be placed in one rule: "Ser is permanant, and estar is temporary."

It cannot be placed in one rule, simply because there are way too many exceptions for the 'rule' to be valid (not few exceptions).

I highly recommend reading this article by our esteemed Lazarus which gives a much better way of understanding ser and estar