“Ser” or “estar”? The great battle of Spanish!
If you are learning Spanish, you have probably asked yourself at some point: ¿ser or estar? Which one do I use? Why are there two verbs for “to be”? Don’t worry! You are not the only one. These two verbs often confuse most students of Spanish language. But here we’re going to explain everything in a simple way and with a Valencian touch so you won’t forget.
What is ser?
Think of ser as the verb you use to talk about what something or someone is forever (or almost forever).
We use ser to:
- Identify people or things:
– Yo soy Ana. (I am Ana)
– La plaza del Ayuntamiento es aquella plaza con tiendas alrededor. (The Town Hall Square is the one surrounded by shops.)
- Talk about profession or activity:
– Mi amigo es músico. (My friend is a musician)
– Tú eres estudiante de español. (You are a student of Spanish)
- Indicate the place of origin:
– Nosotros somos de Valencia. (We are from Valencia)
– ¿De dónde eres tú? (Where are you from?)
- Describe permanent characteristics:
– La paella es deliciosa. (Paella is delicious)
– Laura es bonita y muy inteligente. (Laura is pretty and very intelligent)
- Telling the time or date:
– Hoy es martes. (Today is Tuesday)
– Son las cinco. (It’s five o´clock)
And what about estar?
Estar is used to talk about how something or someone is at a specific moment, such as your mood, where you are, or an action that is happening right now.
We use estar for:
- Location:
– El Rincón del Tándem está en Valencia. (El Rincón del Tándem is in Valencia)
– ¿Dónde está la playa de la Malvarrosa? (Where is Malvarrosa beach?)
- Temporary states:
– Yo estoy cansado después de tantas horas de clase. (I am tired after so many hours of class)
– Mi amiga está contenta porque hoy es su cumpleaños. (My friend is happy because today is her birthday)
- Temporary conditions:
– El restaurante está cerrado. (The restaurant is closed)
– La ciudad está llena de gente por las Fallas. (The city is full of people because of the Fallas)
- Ongoing actions (estar + gerund):
– Estoy aprendiendo español. (I am learning Spanish)
– Ellos están celebrando la Noche de San Juan. (They are celebrating Saint John’s Eve).
Tips to remember without going crazy.
Ser = what you “are” (identity, characteristics that don’t change much, talking about the day and time).
Estar = how you “are”’ or where you “are” (moods or places that change).
A little bit of Valencia to practise!
Imagine you are walking around Valencia. What would you say?
- La Lonja de la Seda es un edificio histórico / The Lonja de la Seda is a historic building. (Because that doesn’t change)
- Hoy la Lonja está cerrada / Today the Lonja de la Seda is closed. (Because it’s Monday and it’s only closed today)
- Las Fallas son fiestas increíbles. / Las Fallas are incredible festivities. (It’s an unchanging truth for Valencians)
- Durante las Fallas, las calles están llenas de fuego y ruido. / During Las Fallas, the streets are full of fire and noise. (It only happens on those days)
- La horchata es una bebida típica y refrescante. / Horchata is a typical and refreshing drink. (It’s the characteristic of the drink)
- Ahora mismo, estoy tomando una horchata en una terraza. / Right now, I’m drinking horchata on a terrace. (Action that is happening now)
See? It’s not that difficult.
With these tips from El Rincón del Tándem, you’ll see that using “ser” and “estar” is much easier. You just need to practise a little and think: is this forever or just now?
If you liked this article, you might be interested in our post on the most common expressions with the verb “ser”.
Finally, we remind you that our Spanish school offers classes for all levels. Take a look at our list of courses!
Have a great day!
