Clarification needed: When do I use "Estoy"?

Question

This isn't a question about ser vs. estar (at least, I don't think that it is!)... yes, I still struggle from time to time with that, but there are many resources on this site that have been very helpful to me on the subject.

My confusion stems from the corrections that I have received on a couple of my entries on la palabra del día threads.

1. Parado delante de la parada de autobús... / I stand in front of the bus station...

This was corrected to: Estoy parada delante de la parada de autobús... link1

1. Estoy limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana... / I clean my house early in the morning...

This was corrected to: Limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana... link2

¡Estoy confundida! I don't understand why one would require "estoy" when the other one did not. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! Gracias a todos.

I should add that those weren't the only corrections to my sentences **blushing**, I provided the links in case it has something to do with the rest of my sentences. - hollyjollyberry, Dec 15, 2011

Answer 1

Hi! OK, let me try to explain.

Your first sentence:

Parado delante de la parada de autobús.

Parado is an adjective meaning stationary or standing (it has some other meanings as well, but let's stick with these). (It is made from the past particple of parar, to stop). So your sentence has no verb, it is just "standing/at a standstill in front of the bus stop. You need to add the verb "I am", which in this case would be estoy.

Estoy parado delante de la parada de autobús.

Your second sentence:

Estoy limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana.

Limpio is either an adjective meaning clean, or a verb meaning 'I clean'. If you want to combine it with estar, you could say

Estoy limpiando mi casa temprano por la mañana. (Present progressive tense)

Or, you could just use the present indicative:

Limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana.

I hope this is helpful!

Very helpful, thank you! - hollyjollyberry, Dec 15, 2011

Answer 2

Hi, Holly!

The problem is, that in Spanish we don't have a only-word-equivalent verb for "to stand". We have to say "estar parado" instead.

This does not apply for "to clean", which literally translates to "limpiar"

To stand = estar parado

To clean = limpiar

Thanks, cogumela. :) - hollyjollyberry, Dec 15, 2011

Answer 3

Thank you. Good question and good answers. I was pretty confused over how to deal with words that don't have a direct translation (and there must be thousands of these). One example would be the good old 'me gusta' that doesn't translate to an equivalent.

I guess I'll have to learn the exceptions to each word individually but this thread has certainly got me to understand one more!

Answer 4

"How you feel or where you are, always use the verb estar"...? :D

Yes, emotional states and location (for where you are now, but now from where you are from) both use estar

Answer 5

"How you feel or where you are, always use the verb estar"...? :D

Answer 6

1. Parado delante de la parada de autobús... / I stand in front of the bus station... Actually, I would say --- Estoy parado/a frente a la parada del autobús you must use o or a to denote the gender.

2. Estoy limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana... / I clean my house early in the morning... Limpio mi casa temprano en la mañana or Limpio mi casa temprano por la mañana

3. You would use "estoy" when you are executing the action, or when you are describing the way you are feeling right now. Example"

-

Executing the action: Stoy limpiando la casa.

• How you feel right now: Estoy cansado, estoy enfermo, estoy enojado, etc.