Use Estar When Something Is Temporary Or Uncertain Really, adding estar into the mix is what confuses the situation! 1. When To Use Ser vs Estar: Estar (The Basics) I will share more examples in a minute of common mistakes new Spanish speakers make with ser, but first, let’s take a look at estar. In that sense, there is no ambiguity when it comes to the time! Here are some examples in Spanish: It is a specific time at this specific moment. Use Ser To Tell The TimeĪlthough the time is always changing, it is also specific at any given moment. This is one reason that I prefer to think of ser as inherent or innate instead of simply permanent. It is appropriate to consider your hair colour, profession, and height as essential character traits even though any of them could eventually change in the future. You might be saying to yourself that your profession is not always permanent.Īlthough that is true, your profession is also something about you that does not vary from moment to moment or day to day. Juan es un buen hombre (Juan is a good man).Inherent characteristics (things that are always true) use ser.įor example, use ser when you are describing something about yourself or another person that does not change or is generally true, such as a personality trait or physical characteristic, a profession or a place of origin. The first question to ask yourself is ❼ambia o no cambia?ĭepending on whether the thing you’re talking about changes or not, you’ll use ser or estar. Use Ser When Something Is Fixed Or Stays The Same ![]() The infographic below will give you a quick overview of the basics of ser vs estar but keep scrolling for more examples and explanations to help you master these verbs. … the stuff you were probably told when you first learned Spanish at school or that you find at the beginning of your Spanish textbook. Instead, there are a few general rules of thumb that you will use to determine which word to use when. Knowing when to use which verb is often confusing for new Spanish speakers because there is no hard and fast rule. Ser vs Estar: Estar Conjugation When To Use Ser vs Estar: Ser (The Basics) Or, if you prefer to read the explanation or want to come back and review after watching the video, just scroll down past the video and keep reading! ![]() If you’re more of a visual learner, you can watch a video version of these examples and tips from my Fluent Spanish Academy youtube channel. Mastering these two verbs will go along way to helping you sound more natural when you speak Spanish. In this article, you'll learn to understand the fundamental differences between ser and estar, so you can start using them correctly in your conversations. Knowing which verb to use will become second nature to you once you understand the basic concept and get lots (and lots) of practice. If you are feeling confused or overwhelmed, however, don’t worry! The entire meaning of your sentence will be different depending on whether you use ser or estar. You will need to learn when to use ser and when to use estar. Unlike most other verbs like comer (to eat), for example, you can't simply translate “to be” into Spanish and move on. The concept of more than one verb to say what we can with a single word is difficult to grasp. The main reason ser and estar trip up new Spanish speakers is that English only has one verb for “to be”. Ser vs Estar: Why Are These Verbs So Confusing? Click here to find out more and try out the method for free. Yes, both verbs mean “to be,” but there’s a lot more to it than that.īy the way, if you want to learn Spanish through stories, not rules, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®. The difference between ser and estar is one of the most fundamental concepts in Spanish, and also one of the most confusing for Spanish language learners. ![]() You see, the English verb “to be” is actually two separate verbs in Spanish: ser and estar. Ser and estar are guaranteed to give you constant headaches throughout your Spanish learning journey. It doesn't matter whether you're new to the language or you've been learning for a while. Ser vs estar: these two Spanish verbs drive most of us crazy.
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