Subject Explanations:
Ser Usage and Grammar
Estar Usage and Grammar
Ser vs Estar Differences
Subject Exercises:
Ser Exercise 1
Estar Exercise 1
Ser vs Estar Exercise
In Spanish, Ser and Estar are used very commonly in daily conversations. The English equivalent of it is the “verb to be”.
Estar Conjugation
Personal Pronoun | Estar (to be) |
Yo | estoy |
Tú | estás |
Él/Ella | está |
Nosotros/Nosotras | estamos |
Vosotros/Vosotras | estáis |
Ellos/Ellas – Ustedes | están |
Uses of Estar in Spanish
- To indicate a location:
Examples:
Carmen está en la cuidad de México.
Carmen is in Mexico City.
Estoy en la escuela.
I’m at school.
- To express moods:
Examples:
Estoy muy triste.
I am very sad.
Mis amigos están muy felices.
My friends are very happy.
- To express temporary physical conditions:
Examples:
Rodrigo está en coma.
Rodrigo is in a coma.
Mi hermana está con gripe.
My sister has the flu.
Rosa está con la pierna rota.
Rosa has a broken leg.
- In sentences with the –ando, –iendo forms of gerund in the present progressive tense:
Examples:
Luisa está vendiendo ropa.
Luisa is selling clothes.
Carlos está buscando casa.
Carlos is looking for a house.
Isabel está necesitando una niñera.
Isabel is needing a babysitter.
Estar Expressions
Estar de vacaciones (to be on vacation)
Example:
Estamos de vacaciones por Europa.
We are on vacation in Europe.
Estar a + Date
Example:
Estamos a veinte de abril.
It’s April 20th.
Estar de acuerdo con (to agree with)
Example:
Luisa está de acuerdo con Mariana.
Luisa agrees with Mariana.
Estar a punto de (to be just about to)
Example:
Carla está a punto de casarse.
Carla is about to get married.