How to use When to use ser and when estar for “to be” in Spanish
Learn how to use When to use ser and when estar for “to be”, and what to use it for in Spanish.
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When to use ser and when estar for “to be”
These are the main uses of ser ser, presente and estar estar, presente:
Ser
- To identify and describe someone (nationality, profession, religion, etc.):
Yo soy Ana y él es Teo, somos españoles.
I am Ana and he is Teo; we are Spanish.
Ellos son ingenieros.
They are engineers.
- To express permanent characteristics or qualities:
La piscina del hotel es pequeña.
The hotel swimming pool is small.
- To indicate where and when an event happens:
El funeral de Beatriz es mañana, en la piscina.
Beatriz's funeral is tomorrow, at the pool.
- To indicate date and time:
Hoy es 11 de mayo.
Today is 11 May.
Son las doce y media.
It's half past twelve.
Estar
- To say where people, places and things are located:
Estamos en Buenos Aires.
We're in Buenos Aires.
El hotel está en Madrid.
The hotel is in Madrid.
- To indicate physical states and states of mind:
Magda está triste.
Magda is sad.
Ellas están sentadas.
They are sitting down.
- Always before bien (good, well) or mal (bad, badly)
—¿Cómo estás? —Estoy mal, tengo resaca.
-How are you? -I'm bad, I've got a hangover.
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