Ser vs Estar Tip

Question

Ser vs Estar Tip

cmusba's post on How to say "whatever + verb" has inspired me to share a tip of my own, which I hope will help those who struggle as I do.

I struggle with Spanish, and with ser and estar, especially when I want to say something in other than present tense.

It really helps me to say it first in present tense (where there is at least a chance I will know whether to use ser or estar). Then I change tense, believing that if it was some form of ser in the present tense, it will also be some form of ser in the other tenses... same goes for estar.

¡La comida es deliciosa! = The food is delicious!
¡La comida era deliciosa! = The food was delicious!

¿Dónde está mi sombrero? = Where is my hat?
¿Dónde estaba mi sombrero? = Where was my hat?

If this is not the case, please do correct me before I lead others astray. Thanks.

Mate,maaaaate, any tip is better than no tip at all, I stil struggle with this and por y para, and indirect and direct objects, in fact the whole 9 yards of Spanish . Gracias porr eso. - ray76, Jul 27, 2016

Answer 1

Yes, if one is more appropriate in one tense, it should carry through to the others. But I want to comment on one particular aspect that is a little tangential.

¡La comida es deliciosa! = The food is delicious!

¡La comida era deliciosa! = The food was delicious!

Ser vs. Estar with food is tricky.

My understanding is that both are used, to convey different meanings.

El café es delicioso. Coffee is (inherently-by definition) delicious. Esta taza de café está deliciosa. This cup of coffee is (particularly-in the condition of being) delicious.

La comida de este restaurante es rico. The food in this restaurant is (always, normally, generally) delicious. Esta comida que has preparado está muy rico. This meal that you have prepared (specifically) is very delicious.

So to compliment the chef, I think you use estar.

At least this is my understanding.

Incredibly helpful to me, amigo. :) - jrschenk, Jul 26, 2016

Wow Bosque you hit the jackpot for me , this is so simple to understand, thaks mate. - ray76, Jul 27, 2016

Bosque, you are correct, you use estar to compliment the chef: Esto está riquísima = This (food) is / tastes delicious - FELIZ77, Jul 27, 2016

Answer 2

This concept works even in other areas--for example people.

Here's an example.

Adela es una muchacha muy hermosa/guapa/bonita, etc. However Senior Prom night is here so our Adela goes to the Salón de belleza, has a facial, they do her hair up like a Hollywood star, and she gets a dress that would make Melania Trump jealous.

When her boyfriend picks her up in the evening, his eyeballs nearly pop out of his head and he cries:

"¡Adelita! ¡Güau! ¡Qué rebonita estás!

That does it for me también guapita.. - ray76, Jul 27, 2016

¡Daniela! ¡Güau! ¡Qué servicial estás! - jrschenk, Jul 27, 2016

Jaja, Gracias. ♥ - Daniela2041, Jul 27, 2016