A1 Ser vs Estar — the two “to be” verbs
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Spanish uses two verbs where English uses one (“to be”): ser and estar. Choosing the right one is one of the first big steps in Spanish.
Ser — permanent, defining things
Use ser for identity, origin, profession, nationality, time, and characteristics that define what something is.
| Soy profesora. | I am a teacher. |
| Ella es de España. | She is from Spain. |
| Somos amigos. | We are friends. |
| Son las tres. | It is three o’clock. |
Estar — states, feelings, location
Use estar for location, temporary states, feelings, and the result of a change.
| Estoy cansado. | I am tired. |
| El libro está en la mesa. | The book is on the table. |
| Estamos en Madrid. | We are in Madrid. |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
The trick that changes meaning
The same adjective can change meaning: ser aburrido = to be boring (a person’s nature), estar aburrido = to be bored (right now). Ser listo = to be clever, estar listo = to be ready.
Conjugate both on the ser and estar pages, then practise in the exercises.
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