...."han estado" vs "fueron"....

Question

Full context

Mis lecciones han sido estado en este corral redondo y pequeño.

The correction is "fueron", past tense, preterit.

I want to indicate my lessons are ongoing in the corral. They have not stopped. In the future, I have more scheduled to take.

The present perfect tense is frequently used for past actions that continue into the present, or continue to affect the present.

Do I need a key word in my sentence to indicate the ongoing nature of lessons in the corral? I thought the use of the present perfect verb was all I needed?

Any ideas are appreciated. Muchas gracias.

I hope they were riding lessons, if not, I've yet again made as total fool of myself. - annierats, Jul 24, 2012

Interesting, Bandit. I mean, the article form the full context. And this question from the post too. - iana01, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 1

I would say "han sido" because you are talking about the location where you did your lessons, not where the lessons have been stored. Your problem is not with the tense, but the verb.

La lección es en el corral. The lesson is in the corral.

Answer 2

I think a leccion can't "estar" because they are not a person. I don't know, maybe in Southamerica they talk like that, but i swear, it sounds like a robot, without coherence..

I would say " He dado mis lecciones en este corral redondo y pequeño".

Nice answer. In English : you give a lesson = you are the teacher. You have a lesson = you're the pupil. - annierats, Jul 24, 2012

Paula, so you have learned one way to use "estar" is if the subject is a person versus an object? If you have a link could you post it here for the members? Muchas gracias! - bandit51jd, Jul 24, 2012

the verb "estar" usually is related with something temporal, a object can "estar" if you are talking about the condition of it "la guitarra está dañada" "the guitar is damaged" or "la habitación está caliente" "the room is warm". - paula_vlc, Jul 24, 2012

We make a joke, when in the night we are very good dressed and somebody says "Que guapa estás" and I answer "Que guapa estoy no, que guapa soy!". Beacuse "estar" means that I was beautiful only in that moment. Haha just a joke :] - paula_vlc, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 3

Hola, Bandita.

The correction was because you used the verb "estar" instead of "ser." As Tejano says, "ser" is used to tell where an event is taking place.

If your lessons are ongoing, I would use "han sido" but remember that sometimes this too can mean that they have ended (depends on the country how it's interpreted). The preterit version of "ser," i.e., "fueron," was used because it was assumed (incorrectly) that the lessons were over.

Great question!!

I am still trying to bang "event/ser" into my brain! I just assumed most members knew my riding lessons are on-going. But since we have new members every day maybe I shouldn't! Muchas gracias! :) - bandit51jd, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 4

Wow. Thanks for the question, bandita. I also think your use of the present perfect was appropriate, but this question of "ser or estar" drove me batty there for a while. Because of what I though I knew, ie., location=estar, I would have used "estar" as well. .Now I think I know a little more and maybe this time it will stick. (he he, indulgence, please, from those to whom this is so elemental.)

unMica wrote:

I would say "han sido" because you are talking about the location where you did your lessons, not where the lessons have been stored. Your problem is not with the tense, but the verb.

Yes! Actually, you are talking about the lessons (the subject) and the location of their occurence. Nevertheless, you are correct that the verb should be "ser."

(kramer12 is spot on, as well)

According to http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/serest2.htm and also the SD article on the ser/estar question, it happens there is an exception to the usual rule of thumb for location:

Ser is used to tell where an event is taking place.

La película es en el cine.
The movie is at the theatre.

La fiesta es en el club Fantástico.
The party is in the Fantastic Club.

and your example,

La lección es en el corral.
The lesson is in the corral.

which leaves us with your solution:

Mis lecciones han sido en este corral....

Nevertheless, I'm intrigued by what paula_vlc suggests: "He dado mis lecciones en este corral redondo y pequeño". (I have given my lessons...etc.?) Is this one of those idiomatic things where, for an English speaker, "given" is "taken?"

Good question, I hope we can get an answer.Or could this be possible... me ha dado las lecciones? - yahvey_hoffman, Jul 24, 2012

Muchas gracias! The link and reference to our SD articles are appreciated. Mariana has told me about this event concept before. Drat, I forgot! The reminder is appreciated! - bandit51jd, Jul 24, 2012

Yahvey, I think the sentence you propose is fine except "me han dado" plural, because "the lessons" are the subject, "The lessons have been given to me"? - bandit51jd, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 5

I feel like "han sido" is fine, especially since you started your text with the present perfect tense. This acts as your key word, indicating that the lessons are still going on

Muchas gracias, Kramer! - bandit51jd, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 6

If these are , as I think, riding lesons, use the word picadero for the arena/enclosure where you had them. These are usually small and round, in Spain, anyway.

Mis clases de equitación , hasta ahora, han sido en el picadero.

He tenido lecciones, pero , hasta ahora, solamente en el picadero. ( I think tener would work.)

Answer 7

Bandit, after reading this thread I was wondering about your choice of using the present perfect tense in this context. Maybe I'm missing something, but the present tense seems to work fine in your example and I would simply say: "Mis lecciones son en este corral...". I think the present perfect is correct too, but personally I would use it instead of the simple present tense if I had something more to add like: "Mis lecciones han sido en este corral por veinte años, pero la semana que viene voy a continuarlas en un nuevo lugar"

Answer 8

New word for me: from wordreference.com

picadero

(para caballos) exercise ring;
(escuela) riding school

Mis lecciones han sido en este picadero para caballos.

My lessons have been in this exercise ring.