What Is Estar Used For In Spanish

Brusk answer:

We use ser to describe:

Someone or something'due south nature or identity
Time and events

We use estar to describe:

Someone or something's temporary country
Someone or something's location

Longer, more than thorough answer:

Ser or estar: to be or… to be?

If you have been learning Spanish for some time, y'all'll know that knowing when to use ser and when to utilise estar can be really challenging.

Much similar the deviation betwixt Spanish prepositions por and para, at first using them correctly might feel like a struggle. Merely the more exposure and conversation practice you get, the more than it will become 2d nature to yous.

Why are these 2 Spanish verbs so challenging?

Both verbs ser and estar mean "to be", but at that place's more to information technology than that. The pregnant of a sentence tin can change, depending on which verb y'all apply.

Let me explicate with an example.

Mistakenly telling someone, for instance, that estás aburrido (you're bored) instead of eres aburrido (y'all're slow) could have socially catastrophic consequences!

Sometimes, the rules for using ser and estar can exist difficult to spot. Merely don't worry, I'm here to help.

Ser and estar in activeness: 4 golden rules

Now, I'm not going to give yous a dull, long list of rules to memorise (I'1000 picturing yous yawning at the very prospect!).

Instead, I'm giving yous four golden rules to guide you. Follow them, and you'll empathize everything there is to know about these two tricky verbs!

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Ser vs estar – 4 golden rules from our Spanish language expert

1. Apply ser to describe someone's or something's nature or identity

Ser describes your intrinsic characteristics, or your personal identity – retrieve about every unmarried characteristic that shapes part of who you are.

These characteristics include someone's:

Physical appearance

Utilise ser to draw what someone or something looks like, or what people are like – i.east., their personality traits.

For instance:

Carolina es una chica muy guapa y además es súper simpática.

Carolina is a very pretty daughter and she's also very nice.

Origin and nationality

You lot can likewise use ser to draw where you lot are from and your nationality.

For instance:

Yo soy de Argentina, pero mi padre es chileno.

I am from Argentine republic, but my begetter is Chilean.

Occupation

A task is besides part of your identity – who you are. Your profession is the customs you belong to – a lifestyle you place with.

For example:

Soy profesora de español.

I am a Spanish teacher.

2. Use estar to talk near nigh someone's or something's land

Estar describes temporary states – how you are feeling. It refers to something you experience, the exact contrary of your nature or identity.

Permit's accept a look at this instance:

Estoy muy cansado porque he trabajado todo el día sin parar.

I'k very tired because I take been working non-stop all day.

See: I'm describing how I'm feeling later running around similar a headless chicken at work.

In this case, I'm using estar rather than ser because I'thousand describing my electric current state. I oasis't got chronic fatigue – information technology's not office of my fixed identity. I'grand just tired because, at this moment in time, I'm feeling overworked.

Not sure yous get the difference between using ser for identity, and estar for state?

It'due south a catchy one, we know. Click here to skip to our department on identity (ser) versus state (estar).

3. Utilize ser to talk almost fourth dimension and events

Whether you're asking what fourth dimension information technology is, telling someone what day or the month yous're in, or talking about something that is taking place, it'll be time (come across what I did there?!) to use ser.

Here'due south an case involving fourth dimension:

Mi cumpleaños es en octubre.

My altogether is in October.

Here's another – this time, when someone tells someone where an event is occurring.

For example:

El concierto es en el auditorio.

The concert is in the auditorium.

4. Utilise estar to talk about someone'south or something's location

When describing where someone or something is, yous as well use estar.

For example:

Juan está en casa.

Juan is at dwelling house.

Identity (ser) vs state (estar): a closer wait

Four golden rules covered. Groovy!

At present, allow's talk specifics. Call back how I said that sentences can have completely different meanings, depending on whether you utilise ser or estar?

Well, this is particularly true when it comes to expressing someone or something'due south identity, versus someone or something's temporary state.

Here are three examples of scenarios where, if you lot pick the wrong verb, things can get lost in translation.

i. Ser aburrido (to be boring) vs. estar aburrido (to exist bored)

In the ser instance, you're describing someone's personality. Try not to take it personally, Alberto!

Alberto es aburrido.

Alberto is ho-hum.

Meanwhile in the estar example, yous're talking about Alberto's mood – how he is feeling at a specific moment in fourth dimension.

Alberto está aburrido.

Alberto is bored.

2. Ser listo (to be clever) vs. Estar listo (to exist fix)

Here, you are saying that Alicia is an intelligent person. Her intelligence is part of her identity.

Alicia es muy lista.

Alicia is very clever.

Simply it's a different story with the verb estar. In this instance, you're describing Alicia'due south state.

Alicia está lista.

Alicia is ready.

iii. Ser guapo (to be good looking) vs. estar guapo (to expect practiced)

Using the verb ser here might make you blush – you're being told that you're an attractive man being. That'south not something you can change – in the words of Lady Gaga, you're born this way!

¡Qué guapo eres!

You are very adept looking!

Using the verb estar here is still cause for you to blush – but the compliment is more than specific to the moment. Here, y'all're being told that you lot look especially expert in the shirt you're wearing.

¡Qué guapo estás con esa camisa!

You expect and so skilful in that shirt!

To sum up

It sounds quite straightforward, right? In truth, one time yous've got your head around everything in this mail service, information technology really is!