Ser vs estar. What is the difference?
When to use ser and when to use estar?
8 answers from our tutors
Best answer
Hello, Great Question! Estar is used when describing something temporary, such as "I am sad". That feeling wont last forever, so use Estar, "Yo ESTOY triste". Estar is also used to describe someone's location for example "ESTABAS en la tienda" Ser is used to describe someones physical identity or personality, for example "Yo SOY baja". Ser is used for origin or nationality "Yo SOY de Mexico" Ser is also used for time and events "Tu cumpleanos es en Octubre" I hope this helps!
Todas las respuestas aquí son correctas y abarcan diferentes aspectos de los verbos ser y estar. Algo que añadiría aquí es que "ser" habla de la esencia, de algo intrínseco al sujeto, mientras que "estar" habla de estados que no forman parte de la identidad o esencia del sujeto. Por ejemplo, estar muerto o estar vivo son situaciones de larga duración o permanentes, pero no son una característica propia del individuo. El verbo "ser" implica una transformación profunda, como cuando decimos que una persona era tímida y tras un profundo trabajo personal se ha convertido en otra persona y ahora es más extrovertida. Ser tímida o extrovertida no es un estado, es una característica esencial del individuo.
Hello Priu, Ser answers the question "What" (a permanent condition) and it is conjugated (yo soy, tu eres, el-ella es/nosotros somos/ustedes son/ellos son) Estar answers the question "how" (temporary condition) or "where" (location) and it is conjugated (yo estoy/tu estás/el-ella está/nosotros estamos/ustedes están/ellos están. Hope it helps!
- Patricia YapurSpanish Native Tutor for many years, worked in the Hotel and Tourist field, world traveller.
The main difference between Ser y Estar are: Ser is used for permanent qualities, like your name. I am Patricia. Yo soy Patricia. Also your place of origin, Yo soy de La Ciudad de Mexico, la gran capital, and as well your physical appeareance, Yo soy alta y de pelo negro. While Estar is used to talk about temporary situations, such as, how are you feeling right now, like: Yo estoy contenta, or your location, Yo estoy en casa.
Hi! You should use ser---( age, feeling and talking about what do you do? ) Estar , when you are in specific place. For example: I'm at the bank. Estoy o Yo estoy en el banco
Ser it is the Spanish work verb also estar , I think the pronunciation.
- Consuelo ChaparroEnglish teacher, Spanish tutor
"Ser" is for a permanent state of the verb be, for instance "the building is tall" (the building won't change), and "estar" is for a changing state of the verb be, for instance "ella está embarazada" ("she is pregnant").
En pocas palabras, ser se utiliza para hablar de estados permanentes, mientras que estar se utiliza para hablar de condiciones temporales. En inglés, se usaría el verbo “to be” para ambos casos, pero en español ambos verbos tienen significados algo diferentes. Otra forma de explicar su diferencia es que ser habla sobre qué es algo y «estar» habla de cómo es algo.
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