Not so serious grammar discussion

Question

Okay, I'm having one of those moments. Can I just have one minute of fun here, or will I get in trouble? I'll risk it, hoping that someone finds it entertaining.

A frequently asked question....

What's the difference between ser and estar?

Ser doesn't have an "a" or a "t".

Estar is a longer word.

There is no difference, it's a Spanish conspiracy to make us feel stupid.

Ser is an imposter and imitates ir in the preterite tense, so that no one knows what is going on.

---I hope you find this helpful. Feel free to add your own insights.

I respect your Authoritah on such matters. - sacabrillo, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 1

Good points. I like it.

I strongly feel that the language people use both reflects and influences how they think. Humans think in symbols, and their language(s) supply the vast majority of their symbol set. If English only has one verb for "to be", but Spanish has two, that's significant. The verb "to be" is one of the oldest in every language, which is also why it's irregular. Most of the irregular verbs in every language are the oldest.

The implication is that Spanish-speaking people differentiate in how they think about "being", while English-speaking people don't. I don't know what that means, but I do think it could provide insight into cultural differences.

You are, of course, quite right! :-) - MLucie, Jan 16, 2012

yes quite right Kevin, not exactly fun je je but right lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 17, 2012

For sure! - Ada-S, Jan 17, 2012

Yep, exceedingly well put! - territurtle, Jan 20, 2012

Always enjoy reading you Kevin - patch, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 2

And what's with this masculine/feminine stuff. I have never met a table that was female or a car that was male. More anti-depressants, please.

lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 18, 2012

Well, I have met problems that were male and solutions that were female. - JoyceM, Jan 21, 2012

I'm used to both female and masculine nouns in my language, but words that are masculine in Norwegian, may be female in Spanish and vica versa. Probably we would be better without it. But, my point, a storm is sometimes referred to as "she". So is a boat. - inridk, Jan 21, 2012

Answer 3

I'm on a roll now! My book probably won't be as successful as the one that Lazarus is writing, but...

---What's the difference between saber and conocer?

Si no lo sabes, no quiero conocerte.

---What's the difference between the preterite and the imperfect?

La sabía, pero se me olvidó.

:-) - Echoline, Jan 17, 2012

jaja, estos son tannnn divertidos. ¡Tengo que usarlos con mis estudiantes --espero que no te moleste! - RedLine55, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 4

And why the subjunctive??? It's a conspiracy on the part of the big pharmacutical companies to push native English speakers who are trying to learn Spanish to take anti-depressants!

lol :) Ay Echo, ¿cuánto tiempo sin verte! I feel your pain re the subjunctive although I must say I believe I'm starting to get it thank goodness :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 17, 2012

and if I can get it at all I'm sure with your amazing brain it'll be a piece of cake :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 17, 2012

¡Me encanta tu respuesta! :) - Cordobesa, Jan 17, 2012

Jajaja! Welcome back, Echo! - MLucie, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 5

Estar is jealous of ser being so irregular, that's why we conjugate the past tense as estuve, estuviste, estuvo, etc.

Another case of competition between close relatives! Quite sad, they should be friends. :-) - MLucie, Jan 16, 2012

Oh, so true! :) - Jadey7, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 6

Well, Estar complains that Ser almost never compromises, and Ser seems to think Estar is a flake.

lol - Goldie_Miel, Jan 16, 2012

love it. - Echoline, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 7

Remember the Johnny Cash song, A Boy Named Sue. That was pretty mean. But what about a spansih word named su.

And speaking of pronouns. Would it really be that hard to have different words for him, her and you. His, hers and yours. And why double up on the DOs and IDOs: me, te, lo, la, se, nos, los, las, se. and me, te, le (but maybe se), nos and les (but maybe se).

Please give us a break. Pretty please!

lol - territurtle, Jan 20, 2012

well observed :) :) - patch, Jan 20, 2012

Answer 8

The past tense of ser, fue, is definitely only there to make my students go crazy:

fue al cine, he went to the cinema.

Fue en casa, it went at home.

Fue a mi fiesta, he went to my party

fue malo, he went bad.

trust me, all of them actually heard in clasee - 00494d19, Jan 17, 2012

Now that's one hearty laugh fest!! - territurtle, Jan 20, 2012

It went home. - JoyceM, Jan 21, 2012

Answer 9

Also all these words that have multiple meanings.. I'm looking at you se, que and como. Just plain greedy methinks. I mean, jeez just pick one and go with it.

Answer 10

I thought it was just an entrepreneural conspiracy to sell 501 Verbs books. There really is no difference between any of the verbs... they just make it look hard so the profits will go up.

Change this one this year and another one next year hehehe. Muchas ganacias! - gringojrf, Jan 20, 2012

I'll have to remember ganacias... jejeje - katydew, Jan 21, 2012

Answer 11

Ser celoso/celosa. Eres celoso/celosa.

Inherently you have the jealousy genes.

Estár celoso/celosa. Estás celoso/celosa

You are being jealous right now. It will go away.

Is it any better?

Oops. I am being serious. Sorry guys!

Lol, Chileno. You have been working too hard! Obviously, we keep you busy! :-) - MLucie, Jan 16, 2012

I know! :) - chileno, Jan 17, 2012

Answer 12

ser and estar are best friends...they dislike it when people mix them up!!

On the contrary. I think the laugh every time we mess it up. They are jokesters. - gringojrf, Jan 18, 2012

Actually, they are more like fraternal twins that look very much alike. You have to get to know them fairly well to understand all of their differences. - JoyceM, Jan 21, 2012