When learning Spanish, one of the biggest challenges for native English speakers is grasping the difference between the verbs “ser” and “estar”. Both words translate as “to be” in English, but they are used in very distinct contexts. Knowing how to use “ser” and “estar” correctly is a crucial step in how to learn to speak Spanish fluently. This blog post will delve into the specific uses of each verb to help you understand and apply “ser” and “estar” correctly.
In simple terms, the Spanish verb “estar” is used to describe states, conditions or situations that are temporary or subject to change. “Consider ‘estar’ as indicating ‘how something or someone is’ at a given time, rather than ‘what it or they are’ in a lasting sense.”
Let’s go through a few examples of using “estar” in Spanish to refer to a temporary state of being:
The above explanation covers the basic use of “estar” in Spanish, but there are a few other important contexts of this verb to understand. Of these, the most important to know is that “estar” is also employed to use the present progressive tense. What exactly is the present progressive tense in Spanish? Well, this is used in conjunction with the gerund (the “-ing” form in English) to describe actions currently in progress. Let’s look at a couple of examples of this:
Let’s quickly review how to conjugate the verb “estar” in Spanish in the present tense, something that will come naturally after just a few online Spanish classes or after taking Spanish courses in Madrid. Although “estar” is an irregular verb, in addition to being one of the first verbs you’ll use, its frequent use makes it easier to learn.
When it comes to “ser” in Spanish, this version of the verb “to be” is used to describe essential characteristics that define the identity of a person, thing or concept. In other words, it’s for defining characteristics that are seen as permanent or intrinsic, meaning they don’t change much over time.
Some of these characteristics include names, identities, origins, nationalities, occupations, descriptions and personalities.
To better understand how to use “ser” in Spanish and when you would use “ser” vs “estar”, let’s explore some examples:
The verb “ser” is also used to comment on relationships between people and to indicate possession. To give you a better idea of this concept, here are another couple of examples of using “ser” in Spanish:
Finally, another use of “ser” is seen when talking about dates and times. Even though date and time could be considered temporary, it is “ser” that is used in these situations, for example:
Now that we know when to use “ser” or “estar”, we need to know how to conjugate “ser” in Spanish too. Let’s take a look at the present tense table to conjugate “ser” in Spanish.
