How do i know when to use

Question

I have my Spanish mid term coming up and one of the big things that stumps me is when to use Soy Eres Es Somos Son Estoy Esta Esta Estamos and Estan thanks and have a great day :D

Is the problem when to use ser vs. estar, how to choose the proper conjugation for each, or all of the above? - bosquederoble, Dec 15, 2015

Welcome to SpanishDict. We have a lot of resources on this site and you can access them all for free. Have a look at jtaniel's link. - rac1, Dec 15, 2015

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, Dec 15, 2015

Answer 1

Hi.

Soy and Estoy are first person singular.
Eres and Estás (note tilde and s) are second person singular.
And so on. Do you understand these distinctions?

Ser versus Estar is complicated.

Please complete your profile.

Answer 2

First off, you need to under stand the difference between the actual meanings of Ser and Estar. Both mean "To Be" but have different connotations.

Ser is used to refer to the permanent. You will always be you. That is why you say Yo Soy [name]. Yo soy alto= I am tall, referring to that I have always been tall or general am referred to as tall.

Estar is used for location and non-permanents . Estoy en el trabajo= I am at work. Also used to expression most emotions or state of being. Estoy feliz, triste, vergonzado.=I am happy, sad, embarrassed etc. Estoy cansado= I am tired. Estoy animado= I am excited.

Estar and ser can be used to portray what is normal and what is not. If you were from a place where most trees are extremely tall. You would refer to the trees as "Los arboles son altos" because to you, tall trees is permanent and normal. But you go visit your cousin, and all the trees there are short to you, so you would then refer to the trees as "Los arboles están cortos" because the trees are not the normal permanent height that you are use to. While your cousin may refer to his trees as "Los arboles son cortos".

Another example is with weight. If your friend is normal thin but puts on 50 lbs in 2 months, you would use to describe him with estar saying "Mi amigo está gordo" because he is not normally fat. If you had a fat friend, and he is always fat, you would describe him with ser, saying "Mi amigo es gordo"

Hope that helps!

Él es niño- unless he is Peter Pan, that won't be forever. Él está muerto- I think even if he is a Zombie, that one may be long term. Permanent vs. Temporary is wrong. Defining trait vs. condition of being works much better. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 15, 2015

Great point, Bosque. Ever since Lazarus challenged me over 4 years ago about that I realized that the temp vs perm rule was misleading, confusing and causes more problems that it solves! ;) - FELIZ77, Dec 15, 2015

Answer 3

How you feel, and where you are, ALWAYS use the verb ESTAR

What you're like, Your line of work, and where you're from, Then use "ser" the other one

And then there is always the acronyms.... DOCTOR for SER... and PLACE for ESTAR

D- date; O-occupation;C-characteristics; T-time; O-origin; R-relation for SER

P-positions; L-location; A-action; C- condition; E-emotion

Answer 4

espero te sirva de algo

Mate if you look at Q A that link is up there for all. this member is not interested really . - ray76, Dec 16, 2015

at least i tried. when i tutored spanish in America it felt like they were in it just to pass the class and get the units. me entiendes amigo? - Rey_Mysterio, Dec 16, 2015