"He is dead." Ser or Estar?

Question

Knowing that "dead" is "muerto", how do you say "he is dead"?

Es muerto or Está muerto?

Answer 1

Taking the perspective that "estar" is used for temporary conditions while "ser" is reserved for permanent states is bound to lead to disappointment. Despite the fact that this rule is promulgated by various sources, in the long run it is best to avoid such a simplification as it does not lead to a true understanding of how these words are used.

It would be better to view the use of estar as describing "states of being." In this case, statements such as "Está muerto," "Está vivo," "Está casado," "Está aburrido," etc are used to describe a person's status or state of being.

By contrast, we use the verb ser to describe characteristics or to define somebody by a particular attribute. Expressions such as, "Es casado (He's a married person)," "Es aburrido (He is a boring person)," and even "Es muerto (He is a dead person)" are possible when used to to define a person by a particular characteristic. In the case of the attribute "muerto," we would probably only expect to see such a usage in cases where we are describing "the living dead," zombies, ghouls or the like.

I never knew that, but it seems a very good explanation. - annierats, Dec 22, 2011

Actually, atheists say 'Es muerto', but reincarnationists say 'Está muerto'. :) - Jeremias, Dec 22, 2011

Excelenté! Soy contenta y estoy contenta ... a lightbulb went on over my head when I read your explanation 8-) - Lector_Constante, Dec 22, 2011

Great answer but I see no reason in your answer why permanent and termporary asnwers dont' work - Tasear, Dec 23, 2011

Answer 2

I guess you can always come back from the dead, huh?

It works better not to think of it as temporary or permanent, instead as natural state (how we define something) versus a condition it is in (what it is versus what it is being).

Bananas are yellow- use ser (bananas are yellow only for a period of time, but since you are describing a defining characteristic you use ser)

This banana is green (unripe)- use estar

This apple is green (a green varietal)- use ser

This apple is green (not yet ripe, turned red)- use estar

Since it is not a characteristic of people to be dead, it is a condition that they are in, use estar for dead.

If your car is broken beyond all repair, you still use estar, because it is a condition, no matter how permanent, and not a characteristic of the car.

Good points! I only said that because I know that most beginners are taught that as a general rule... - Tosh, Dec 22, 2011

Yes, then we have explain that all defining characteristics are not permanent, and all conditions are not temporary. I wish they would teach the correct rule in the first place. - Stadt, Dec 22, 2011

Very nice explanation. I would be careful with the explanation regarding most people being alive, however, because "estar" is used with "vivo" as well as "muerto." - Izanoni1, Dec 22, 2011

Yes, I will change it, thanks. You write so beautifully, that if I knew you were going to post, I would not have even answered. :-) - Stadt, Dec 22, 2011

I think I have it fixed now, thanks again, Izanoni. :-) - Stadt, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 3

Strangely enough... use estar.

I guess you can always come back from the dead, huh?

You use it for "married", too... but that should be more obvious (especially in the United States where being married doesn't necessarily last very long).

hehe, that's true! - lydianish1, Dec 22, 2011

You were alive, now you're dead :~) You were single, now you're married, now you're single, now you're married.... :~) - Jack-OBrien, Dec 22, 2011

Lol! Marriages don't last long. - SINGASDF12, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 4

Taking the perspective that "estar" is used for temporary conditions while "ser" is reserved for permanent states is bound to lead to disappointment.

I agree 100%, but the only source that I have seen that doesn't teach this way is Rosetta Stone - since they don't teach you the "why" about anything.

In my opinion, I think it is a good way to start teaching about the difference between "estar" and "ser", because new students of Spanish HAVE to wrap their heads around it somehow. As long as you include that it is a general rule only, and that like everything, there are exceptions.

Wait for Lazaras' book. He hates the temporary/permanent "rule" (and rightly so). - samdie, Dec 22, 2011

I would read it and it would be amazing! But sometimes you can be a little over grammatically correct for a beginner. I learned the temp/perm way... to get started... and had no problem whatsoever understanding later that that was just a guideline. - Tosh, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 5

That's what i think too use "estar"

-Taking the perspective that "estar" is used for temporary conditions while "ser" is reserved for permanent states is bound to lead to disappointment.

Answer 6

Estar. Dead is seen as an ongoing action in the Spanish world.

How strange - even if someone was murdered? Do the deceased choose to continue being dead??!? - Lector_Constante, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 7

Estar ,

I've read in the reference section that : " In Spanish, death is seen as an ongoing action, not a permanent state " , so it's estar not ser

Horse pucky! It's a condition. It's not an action (on-going or otherwise). - samdie, Dec 22, 2011