Question about Ser vs. Estar

Question

Hello, I've been using Fluencia for almost 2 years now. It is what I do when I come home from work. I don't read my email, I just go right to fluencia and try to learn more.

I have a question about Ser and Estar. When I talk about my good old days, I would say, "Cuando era joven jugaba al baloncesto" In this case I am talking about when I was younger.

Now I talk about when I am older. "Cuando sea Viejo, voy a ir el Mexíco"

Why estar for past years and ser for future years?

Thanks que tengan un buen dia!

Answer 1

Both era and sea are conjugations of ser....there is no "estar" in either of these sentences.

Era is the past imperfect tense which is used to describe the way people or things used to be.

Sea is the present subjunctive, which is used after cuando when the event that you are talking about in the following clause has not happened yet, because it is hypothetical, it may never actually happen. You may never be old, so the subjunctive is used in that part of the sentence.

Now...why is voy, and not vaya (the subjunctive of ir = to go) NOT used in the second part of the sentence...that hasn't happened yet either. (You haven't gone to Mexico)

It is because you are stating, as an intention or belief, that if the first condition is met (that you become old) then you will go to Mexico. When you state a future plan for yourself you use the indicative (voy a ir in this case)

If, instead, you said that "maybe" you will go to Mexico using "tal vez" or "quizas" then you could use the subjunctive in the second clause as well. (vaya a ir)

I realize I've done more than answer you original question, but I thought you might as well understand a bit about the indicative and subjunctive as well since "sea" came up in this sentence.

Clear explanation, Ken :) - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Be careful not to give too much info if the person is just a beginner as this qiestioner is , according to their profile. - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

I mean, not too complex an explanation - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Feliz: The first sentence of my post answers the original question very clearly and without any complexity. The rest is "bonus info" for the poster and other members. I don't usually write just for the original poster's eyes. - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

Okay, Ken I understand. I hope I didn't offend you. - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Por supuesto que no, amigo. Ni yo a ti. ;] - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

Answer 2

Hello Casemill,

Welcome to our Spanishdict community forum

While it would seem to be about whether you use ser or estar, the reality is somewhat different!

In your first example sentence you would use the Spanish verb, ser and you also need to use the indicative tense which is used for statements, facts etc.

In your second sentence, however, you need to use the subjunctive mood after using cuando when there is a future implication:

You said:

Now I talk about when I am older. "Cuando sea viejo voy a ir a el Mexíco"

Now I talk about when I am older. "Cuando sea mayor iré a Mexíco

= When I am (would be) older, I will go to México.

Cuando sea mayor / más grande, voy a llegar a ser médico = When I am older, I am going to be a doctor.

Cuando sea mayor de edad = When he reaches the age of majority

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

Ken, Yes you are right but leade give me time In future to pick up on my own mistakes before offering corrections! I usually check and double check and re edit my posts several times before leaving them for others to read! Thank you, you are on the ball - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Correction: Please give me time etc... - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Feliz: I deleted my comment before even seeing your comment :) I was going to say: Sorry, Feliz, I forgot about your previous request to give you time to finish and edit. :) - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

That's okay, thank you, Ken :) - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Feliz: I notice you changed Fluencia's voy a ir to iré, which is better grammar for a distant event. However, in many countries the informal future has replaced the simple future almost completely, which is probably the reason Fluencia says it this way. - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

Feliz: I like your change from viejo to mayor..."when I am older" instead of "when I am old" - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

Yes Ken, but I used the future precisely because the event is in the distant future which is the purpise for the future indicative tense.. The immediate future seems wrong here even though it is in common use! - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Ken,¡ tengo que irme, ahora!. Voy a ayudar a cuidar de los niños en el club de mi iglesia, ahora. Voy a volver mas tarde :) - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Feliz: ¡Que te vaya bien con los niños! - DilKen, Apr 28, 2017

Muchas gracias, Ken :) - FELIZ77, Apr 28, 2017

Answer 3

Hi, casemill.

I'm really impressed by your determination to learn Spanish. In the examples you provide (both of them), the verb you use is "ser" (era and sea). I don't really get why you ask about estar for past years and ser for future years. You are not using estar in your statements.

Anyway, in the second one you better say: "Cuando sea mayor voy a ir a (not el) México".

"Cuando (tú) eras joven" AND "cuando (tú) seas viejo" (When your were young and when get old), you are dealing with and referring to your identity, not a temporary condition, nor the relative result of a situation, but with who you are essentially, that's why you (have to) use "ser".

I hope it helps

Great explanation Raff :) - FELIZ77, Apr 30, 2017