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"Be" is a copular verb which is often translated as "ser", and "subject" is a noun which is often translated as "el tema". Learn more about the difference between "be" and "subject" below.
be(
bi
)
A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
copular verb
a. ser
The ocean is blue.El océano es azul.
a. estar
I'm not in a good mood today.Hoy no estoy de buen humor.
The sky is cloudy.El cielo está nublado.
b. tener
Are you cold? I can lend you a sweater.¿Tienes frío? Te puedo prestar un suéter.
I'm so hungry.Tengo muchísima hambre.
a. ser
France is a member of the European Union.Francia es un miembro de la Unión Europea.
a. ser
What do you do for a living? - I'm a doctor.¿A qué te dedicas? - Soy médico.
a. ser
My birthday is July 26th.Mi cumpleaños es el 26 de julio.
b. estar a (present day)
Today is Thursday.Hoy estamos a jueves.
a. ser
Be polite with guests.Sé educado con los invitados.
b. estar
Be quiet and don't move!¡Estate callado y no te muevas!
a. tener
My brother is 30 years old.Mi hermano tiene 30 años.
a. costar
One pizza and two drinks are $15.Una pizza y dos bebidas cuestan $15.
b. ser
Shipping is three dollars.El envío es tres dólares.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. ser
The party is at my place.La fiesta es en mi casa.
a. estar
My sister is in her room.Mi hermana está en su habitación.
a. estar
I've been to New York three times.He estado en Nueva York tres veces.
b. venir
The mailman has been here, but he didn't bring your package.El cartero ha venido, pero no trajo tu paquete.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
impersonal verb
a. haber
There are no trees on our road.No hay árboles en nuestra calle.
a. ser
It is bedtime.Es hora de ir a dormir.
a. hacer
It's too windy to go up in a balloon.Hace demasiado viento para ir en globo.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
auxiliary verb
a. estar
I am reading a book.Estoy leyendo un libro.
a. ser
The church was built in 1900.La iglesia fue construida en 1900.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I'm going to the party. - So am I.Voy a la fiesta. - Yo también.
It is a lovely day, isn't it?Es un día precioso, ¿verdad?
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I don't know how much salt is to be added to the sauce.No sé cuánta sal hay que añadir a la salsa.
The assignment is to be done by next Thursday.La tarea tiene que estar para el jueves que viene.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
My baby is due in three months.Mi bebé nacerá dentro de tres meses.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist.Mañana voy al dentista.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Had it not been for his family, he would have never become an artist.Si no fuera por su familia, nunca habría sido artista.
If I were you, I would not go.Yo en tu lugar, no iría.
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A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el tema
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Please don't change the subject.Hazme el favor de no cambiar de tema.
b. el asunto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
The war is still a sensitive subject in the Balkans.En los Balcanes la guerra todavía es un asunto delicado.
c. el objeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
(of condemnation or debate)
The new law has been a subject of intense public debate.La nueva ley ha sido objeto de un debate público intenso.
a. la asignatura
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
My favorite subject is Spanish.Mi asignatura favorita es español.
b. la materia
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
Which subjects do you teach?¿Qué materias imparte?
a. el sujeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
In English, every sentence must have a subject.En inglés, toda oración debe tener un sujeto.
a. el súbdito
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
, la súbdita
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
He was born in Madagascar but has been a British subject since 2000.Nació en Madagascar pero es súbdito británico desde 2000.
a. el sujeto
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
At present, a clinical trial is being carried out with 1000 subjects.En estos momentos, se lleva a cabo un ensayo clínico en el que participan 1000 sujetos.
a. el tema
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
An underlying melody unites the fugue's subject with the prelude.Una melodía de fondo enlaza el tema de la fuga con el preludio.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. sujeto
The terms of this contract are subject to the laws of the state.Los términos de este contrato están sujetos a la jurisdicción del estado.
a. sujeto
The pool hours are subject to changes in the weather.El horario de la piscina está sujeto a los cambios de tiempo.
a. propenso
I'm subject to headaches.Soy propensa a los dolores de cabeza.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. someter
A San Diego gang leader subjected several people to slavery conditions.El líder de una pandilla de San Diego sometió a varias personas a condiciones de esclavitud.
a. someter
The Romans subjected the Carthaginians among many other peoples.Los romanos, entre muchos otros pueblos, sometieron también a los cartagineses.
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