Para serte franco.......

Question

To be frank with you.......

and

Para serte honesto. to be honest with you.

Wonder why it's ser not estar when it's like - to be frank right now.........

Gracias.

Answer 1

Estar does not apply at all, because "honestidad" and "franqueza" are not temporary states. They are inherent qualities: soy honesto, soy franco.

Answer 2

I have read from a grammar book once that "ser" is used for "normal" situations, while "ester" is used for "off normal" or temporary situations. Since the speaker thinks to be honest is a "normal" state for him/her, "ser" is used here instead of "estar." That's my understanding.

Thank you for raising this question. Para serte honesto, esto es la primera vez que veo la palabra "serte."

Answer 3

-SER O ESTAR-

SER is used when you are somebody (profession or occupation,etc) example:

• yo soy escritor = I am a writer
• yo soy policia = I am a police officer
• yo soy honesto = I am honest
• yo soy hermano de Michael = I am Michael's brother
• yo soy tu mejor amigo = I am your best friend
• yo soy el primero = I am the first
• yo soy el único = I am the one

ESTAR is used when you are in a place, when you feel something (emotions or feelings), when you are doing something, this verb changes according the pronoun:

this is in simple present:

• yo estoy = I am
• tu estas = you are
• él esta = he is
• ella esta = she is
• eso,esa esta = it is
• ellos, ellas estan = they are
• ustedes estan = you are
• nosotros estamos = we are

example:

• yo estoy en EE.UU = I am in EE.UU
• yo estoy en mi casa = I am at home
• yo estoy triste = I am sad
• yo estoy confundido = I am confused
• yo estoy cansado= I am tired
• yo estoy enfermo = I am sick
• yo estoy escribiendo un libro= I am writing a book
• yo estoy bañandome = I am taking a shower
• yo estoy comiendo un helado = I am eating an Ice cream

Answer 4

One thing though:

To be frank = para ser franco

To be honest = para ser honesto

To be sincere = para ser sincero

OK?

yes I agree Chileno, there is a slight difference between frank and honest - perhaps just a nuance but to me frank means being honest when perhaps it's not the easiest thing to do, it may be awkward or make others feel uncomfortable - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 16, 2012

but Jeezzle did have both examples with translations in his post :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 16, 2012

Answer 5

Here It is more orderly

• yo estoy = I am
  • tu estas = you are
  • él esta = he is
  • ella esta = she is
  • eso, esa esta = it is
  • ellos, ellas estan = they are
  • ustedes estan = you are
  • nosotros estamos = we are