'Soy optimista' or 'soy una optimista'

Question

Which is correct 'soy optimista' o 'soy una optimista'. Does the first mean 'I am optimistic' and the second 'I am an optimist'. In the second sentence do i need the indefinate article - or should it be left out as in 'soy profesora'.

Many thanks and a Happy New Year!

Answer 1

... here are the most common cases where the article shouldn't be used even though it's used in English:

Before an unmodified noun after a form of ser ("to be"), especially in reference to occupation, religion, affiliation or social status (normally, if the noun is modified, the article should be used): Soy profesor. I am a teacher. Él es un buen dentista. He is a good dentist. ¿Eres católica? —No, soy una metodista feliz. "Are you a Catholic." "No, I'm a happy Methodist." Es artista. She is an artist. Es una artista que muere de hambre. She is a starving artist.

So 'I am very optimistic' is 'soy muy optimista' and 'I am a big optimist' is 'soy una grande optimista'. I should have better things than this to do on New Year's Eve!!! - chris-keen, Dec 31, 2011

@Chris: You've got it. Butyou'd say: soy una *gran* optimista, not "grande". :-) - Gekkosan, Dec 31, 2011

Answer 2

Soy optimista says that you are an optimist. Soy una optimista implies that you are one of many optimists.

At least to me that is the difference.

I would leave out the :"una".