SER and ESTAR

Unit 8
 SER and ESTAR
 We have already seen that
there are two verbs meaning
‘to be’ in Spanish, ser and
estar (see Unit 4), and we
have observed some basic
differences between them as
follows:
 SER and ESTAR

ser
1) Used to express permanent
characteristics of a person or
object:
Susana es inteligente.
Susana is intelligent.
SER and ESTAR

ser
Soy ingles.
I am English.
La casa es grande.
The house is big.
 SER and ESTAR
estar
1) Used to express temporary
states:
¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
No estoy bien.
I am not very well.
 SER and ESTAR

estar
1) Used for positions and
locations, whether they are
temporary or permanent:
Madrid está en España.
Madrid is in Spain.
 SER and ESTAR

estar
Los libros están en la
mesa.
The books are on the table.
 SER and ESTAR
 In the examples given above
the use of one or the other
verb is generally clear-cut
and will cause no problem
once learned.
 SER and ESTAR
 In other cases the distinction
between the two verbs is
more difficult to understand,
particularly when the verb ‘to
be’ is followed by an
adjective.
 SER and ESTAR
 Sometimes the choice of verb
might be related to the
speaker’s perception of the
situation and not to an
objective reality:
María está muy guapa.
Maria is (looks) very pretty.
 SER and ESTAR
 In this sentence the speaker
is referring to how s/he sees
Maria at this moment, not
necessarily to the reality of
Maria’s appearance.
 SER and ESTAR
 estar can never be followed
directly by a noun as ser can,
but both verbs can be
followed by an adjective, and
this is where difficulties may
arise.
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
 It is possible to give some
guidelines about the use of
ser and estar with
adjectives.
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
 But it must be borne in mind
that only an understanding of
the underlying principles and in
some cases the context will
guarantee accurate use of the
appropriate verb.
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
1) If the adjective indicates a
QUALITY that is felt by the
speaker to be an inherent
characteristic of the person or
thing referred to, the verb used
is likely to be ser.
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
This type of use refers to
something that is objectively
verifiable:
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
La nieve es blanca.
Snow is white.
(i.e. it is a characteristic of it)
Pedro es andaluz.
Pedro is Andalusian.
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
2) If the adjective refers to
something that the speaker
considers to be accidental or
temporary then estar is used:
Estoy muy cansada.
I am tired.
(i.e. at the moment, not permanently)
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
Mi padre está enferma.
My father is ill.
(i.e. at the moment, not
permanently)
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
Mi sopa está fría.
My soup is cold.
(i.e. this is not a normal
characteristic of soup, it refers to
the state of my soup at the
moment)
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
 In these sentences the
adjectives describe qualities
that are true at the time
referred to but which are not
seen as inherent
characteristics.
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
3) estar is used to express
something which may or may
not always be true but which
the speaker wants to stress at
the time of speaking:
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
¡Qué guapa estás!
How pretty you are!
(i.e. at the moment)
Este café está muy rico.
This coffee is delicious.
(i.e. it is not always delicious)
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
¡Qué simpático está el jefe
hoy!
How nice the boss is today!
(i.e. he is not usually so nice)
 These are all subjective
statements.
 SER and ESTAR
ser and estar
(with adjectives)
 Notice the difference between
these two questions:
¿Cómo está Juan?
and
¿Cómo es Juan?
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
 he first is asking about how Juan
is feeling at the moment, the
second is asking what Juan is
like as a person.
 SER and ESTAR

ser and estar

(with adjectives)
 Some adjectives change their
meaning according to whether
they are used with ser or estar
and these will be indicated in
the dictionary.
 SER and ESTAR
Common Examples
ser aburrido to be boring
estar aburrido to be bored
ser consciente to be aware
estar consciente to be conscious
ser inconsciente to be irresponsible
estar inconsciente to be unconscious
ser listo to be clever
estar listo to be ready
 SER and ESTAR
 These examples illustrate again
the general principle that ser is
used for characteristics that are
more or less permanent, while
estar is used for temporary
states.
 SER and ESTAR
 As you continue with your study
of Spanish you will come across
more uses of ser and estar, e.g.
the use of estar in continuous
tenses and the use of ser to
form the passive, but the above
distinctions should help you to
avoid too many pitfalls in the
early stages.
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

1) Ella es estudiante de
francés.
 (She is student of French.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

2) Ustedes son estudiantes de

ingeniería ¿verdad?
 (You [plural, formal] are
students of engineering, aren't
you?)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

3) Nosotros somos estudiantes

de español.
 (We are students of Spanish.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

4) Yo soy de Madrid.
 (I am from Madrid.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

5) ¿Tú eres de Madrid también?

 (You are from Madrid also.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

6) Vosotros no sois de Madrid

¿no?
 (You are not from Madrid also,
aren't you?)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

7) Nosotros somos de
Barcelona.
 (We are from Barcelona.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

8) Usted es estudiante de
alemán.
 (You are student of German.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

9) Él es estudiante de inglés.
 (He is student of English.)
 EXERCISE 8–A
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser:

10) María y tú sois de Sevilla

¿verdad?
 (Maria and you are from
Seville, aren't you?)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences with
the appropriate form of estar:

1) Ustedes están en el hotel

Meliá ¿no?
 (You are at the Melia Hotel,
aren't you?)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of estar:

2) Yo estoy en el hotel Miguel

Ángel.
 (I am at Miguel Angel Hotel.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences with
the appropriate form of estar:

3) ¿Vosotros estáis en una

casa rural?
 (You are in a country house.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of estar:

4) Ella está en el Parador.

 (She is at the parlor.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences with
the appropriate form of estar:

5) Usted está en una pensión

¿verdad?
 (You are in a pension house.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of estar:

6) Nosotros estamos en un
apartamento.
 (We are in an apartment.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences with
the appropriate form of estar:

7) Él esta en un piso
alquilado.
 (He is in a rented apartment.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of estar:

8) Ellos están en un chalet.

 (They are in a detached
house.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences with the
appropriate form of estar:

9) Tú estas en un camping.
 (You are in a camping.)
 EXERCISE 8–B
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of estar:

10) Rocío y yo estamos en

una residencia de
estudiantes.
 (Rocio and I are in a student
hall.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

1) (Yo) estoy muy aburrida ¿por

qué no vamos al cine?
 (I am very bored, why don’t we go to
the movies?)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

2) (Ellos) están inconscientes

tras el accidente.
 (They are unconscious after the
accident.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:
3) ¿ Estáis listos (vosotros)?
Tenemos que salir ahora
mismo.
 (Are you all ready? We have to leave
right now.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

4) (Ella) esta consciente a

pesar de la caída.
 (She is aware despite the fall.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

5) Las películas de guerra son

aburridas.
 (The war movies are boring.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

6) ¿Usted es consciente del

problema?
 (Are you aware of the problem?)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

7) (Nosotros) estamos listos

para salir en este momento.
 (We are ready to leave at this
moment.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:
8) (Vosotros) sois unos
inconscientes ¿sabéis el
peligro que tiene?
 (We are ready to leave at this
moment.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

9) (Ellos) no son muy listos si

piensan que eso es así.
 (We are ready to leave at this
moment.)
 EXERCISE 8–C
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

10) Odio a Rico, es un hombre

muy aburrido.
 (I hate Rick, he’s a very boring
man.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

1) Peter es alemán.
 (Peter is German.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

2) Zaragoza esta en España.

 (Zaragoza is in Spain.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

3) Guadalajara es una
ciudad de Méjico.
 (Guadalajara is a city in
Mexico.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

4) Mario no esta en Panamá.

 (Mario is not in Panama.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

5) Elena y Isabel están en

una clase de inglés.
 (Elaine and Elizabeth are in
an English class.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

6) Rita y Manuel son de

Navarra.
 (Rita and Manuel are from
Navarra)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

7) Victoria y yo somos _
colombianas.
 (Victoria and I are
Colombians.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

8) Ana esta en Cataluña.

 (Victoria and I are
Colombians.)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

9) ¿(Tú) eres inglés o

irlandés?
 (Are you English or Irish?)
 EXERCISE 8–D
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

10) Ustedes son sevillanos

¿no?
 (You are Sevillians, right?)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences with
the appropriate form of ser or estar:

1) Pepe es alto y delgado.

 (Pepe is tall and thin.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

2) Cristina esta en
Barcelona.
 (Christine is in Barcelona.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

3) La paella esta fría.

 (The paella is cold.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

4) Loreto es periodista.
 (Loreto is journalist.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

5) Luisa y Julio están _

enfermos.
 (Louise and Julius are sick.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

6) Felisa esta muy elegante

hoy.
 (Felisha is very elegant
today.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

7) Mayte y Begoña son _

asturianas.
 (Mayte & Begoña are
Asturian.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

8) Sofía y yo estamos _
contentas.
 (Sophia and I are happy.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

9) El café esta demasiado

caliente.
 (The is too hot.)
 EXERCISE 8–E
 Complete the following sentences
with the appropriate form of ser or
estar:

10) El coche esta sucio.

Tienes que lavarlo.
 (The car is dirty. You have
to wash it.)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:
MAR: ¡Hola! Soy (1) Mar ¿y tú?
(Hello! I am Mar, and you?)
ANA: Yo soy (2) Ana ¿Cómo
estas
____ (3)? (I am Ana, How are
you?)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:
MAR: Bien, gracias ¿y tú? (Fine,
thanks and you?)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:
ANA: Bien también. ¿Y ese
chico tan guapo, quién es _
(4)? (Fine as well. And that so
handsome boy, who is he?)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:
MAR: Es (5) Jordi. Es (6) un
chico catalán pero esta 7)
aquí en Salamanca en un curso
de posgrado.
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

ANA: Yo también estoy (8)

en un curso de posgrado.
_____
Soy (9) médica ¿y tú?
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

ANA:
(I am also in a postgraduate
course. I am physician, and
you?)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

MAR: Soy (10) abogada y

_____
soy (11) la profesora de un
curso de posgrado.
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSE: ¿ Es (12) usted el Sr.

Serrano? (Are you Mr.
Serrano?)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JUAN: Sí, usted es (13) el Sr.

Font ¿verdad?
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSÉ: Sí. Es (14) un placer

conocerle. (It is a pleasrue to
know you.)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JUAN: El placer es (15) mío.

(The pleasure is mine.)
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSÉ: Hoy tenemos una

reunión con la Sra. Abad
después de comer. Es (16) la
presidenta de la empresa.
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSÉ: La Sra. Abad no esta_

(17) aquí ahora, esta (18) en
otra reunión.
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSÉ: Esta mañana nos

reunimos con el Sr. Herrero,
que sí esta (19) aquí.
 EXERCISE 8–F
 Complete the following dialogues
with ser or estar:

JOSÉ: El Sr. Herrero es (20)

el contable de la empresa.
(Mr. Herrero is the accountant
of a business.)
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 La comunidad de Extremadura
está compuesta de dos
provincias: Cáceres y Badajoz.
 The community of Extremadura is
composed of two provinces:
Caceres and Badajoz.
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 Está en el suroeste de España,
en la frontera con Portugal.
 It is in the southwest of Spain on
the border with Portugal.
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 Cáceres es una de las ciudades
más desconocidas y más bonitas
de España.
 Caceres is one of the most
unknown and most beautiful cities
in Spain.
 El centro de la ciudad es
medieval y cuando entras en él
parece que vuelves a la época de
la conquista de América, a los
siglos dieciséis y diecisiete.
 The center of the medieval city
and when you enter ii seems that
you return to the time of the
conquest of America in the 16th
and 17th centuries.
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 En la provincia de Cáceres está
también Trujillo, que es un
pueblo medieval famoso por ser
la cuna de los conquistadores.
 In the province of Caceres there is
also Trujillo which is a medieval
town famous for being the cradle
of the conquerors.
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 En Extremadura está también
Mérida.
 In Extremadura is also Merida.
 Extremadura
 Mérida es uno de los enclaves
romanos más importantes de
España y está en la provincia de
Badajoz.
 Merida is one of the most famous
important Roman enclaves in
Spain and is in the province of
Badajoz.
 CULTURAL BRIEF
Extremadura
 Entre sus principales
monumentos están el circo y el
teatro romano.
 Among its main monuments are
the circus and the RomanTheater.
KEY VOCABULARY
FOR UNIT 8
Spanish English
ahora mismo right now
alquilado rented
a pesar de in spite of, despite
asturiana from Asturias
caída (f.) fall
chalet (m.) detached house
conquista (f.) conquest
KEY VOCABULARY
FOR UNIT 8
Spanish English
contable accountant
cuna (f.) birthplace (formal)
desconocido unknown, little known
empresa (f.) company
época (f.) time
frontera (f.) border
guapo beautiful, handsome
KEY VOCABULARY
FOR UNIT 8
Spanish English
médico doctor
mío mine
odiar hate
parecer to seem
placer pleasure
posgrado postgraduate
residencia hall
KEY VOCABULARY
FOR UNIT 8
Spanish English
rural rural, in the countryside
sevillanos from Seville
siglo (m.) century
tras after
------End of Lesson 8------