Translation question-Where is Mr. Perez?
2
votes
Just starting out. I was hoping someone could explain this to me.
Why is this translated as ¿dónde está el señor Pérez? as opposed to ¿dónde es el señor Pérez?
In english it would be-Where is Mr. Perez? But in Spanish it looks like the verb estar is being used. Thanks
1547 views
updated Aug 14, 2012
posted by bfpsu
2 Answers
1
vote
It is using "estar" in this case because Mr Perez's location can change.
If Mr Perez were dead you could use "ser" because he probably will not move to somewhere else.
Following some comments below let's try this.
If Mr Perez were a statue you could use "ser" because he probably will not move to somewhere else.
Any native speakers care to comment further?
updated Aug 14, 2012
edited by ian-hill
posted by ian-hill
Yes Ian but we still say "está muerto". Strange rule that one. - Eddy, Aug 14, 2012
Ian, are you sure? "Está en el cementerio," "Mario Moreno Cantinflas está enterrado en el panteón español en México DF" - 005faa61, Aug 14, 2012
Yes but we are not talking about "what" he is but "where" he is - right? - ian-hill, Aug 14, 2012
0
votes
Thanks for the response
updated Aug 14, 2012
posted by bfpsu
de nada :) - ian-hill, Aug 14, 2012
