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Estoy Soy , what's the difference ?

Estoy Soy , what's the difference ?

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Thank you in advance for your answer wink

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updated Aug 5, 2017
posted by Noueman4384

1 Answer

2
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Soy= I am from ser.

Ser derives from how things are intrinsically, what defines, them, what is a characteristic.

Estoy= I am from estar

Estar relates to how things are being, what state they are in, where they are.

Two sets of examples, then go find lessons to explore it.

First people will tell you ser is permanent, estar temporary- it's not see here:

Estoy muerto- I am dead, it is a state I am in, not a characteristic, not how I am naturally

(same with roto, even if is broken beyond all repair you say está roto- it's just not how it should be)

Soy niño-I am a child, it characterizes me, someday I will be an adult, but for now being a child defines me.

El café es amargo- I think coffee as a whole is bitter, it is that way, it is a characteristic, all coffee.

El café está amargo- this coffee is bitter, the one I refer to doesn't taste right, it is unnaturally (in the state of being) bitter.

Bonus: El cielo es azul, pero ahora está gris. The sky is blue (by nature), but now it is gray (that's the state it is in).

Here is a link from a member who teaches Spanish in SoCal:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/277484/a-simple-outline-on-the-uses-of-ser-and-estar

If you read that you will be even further along in the game./

Let me add my usual caveat- this relates to what Spanish speakers as a whole have agreed on as being defining characteristics vs. conditions. Not what you think is.

And if you don't like it, explain to a Spanish speaker why you do the dishes and make the bed instead of making the dishes and doing the bed. Or why when you're on a car you are on top of it, but when you are on a train, you are inside.

updated Aug 5, 2017
edited by bosquederoble
posted by bosquederoble
I like your link, (Ahem, and the rest of the article also, --How do I get out of this one??!!) - Daniela2041, Aug 5, 2017
My motto: Open mouth--insert foot. Geez! - Daniela2041, Aug 5, 2017