In spanish estar and ser both mean to be but...???

Question

When do you use estar and ser in a sentence? For example would you use estar if you would like to be something please help me!!???

Answer 1

estoy is used with places:
estoy en casa = i'm home
estoy en el edificio = i'm in the building
estoy aquí = i'm here

is used with the present continius
estoy jugando = i'm playING
estoy comiendo = i'm eating
estoy corriendo = i'm running

is used to describe emotions:
estoy triste = i'm sad
estoy feliz = i'm happy
estoy enamorado = i'm in love

to describe a "transitory" state of your body/mind
estoy enfermo = i'm ill
estoy sano = i'm healthy
estoy cansado = i'm tired
estoy hambriento = i'm starving
estoy borracho = i'm drunk
estoy sobrio = i'm sober
estoy confundido/a = i'm confused
estoy perdido = i'm lost
estoy solo = i'm alone
estoy con X = i'm with X
estoy bien = i'm fine/ok
estoy harto de = i'm fed up with
estoy enojado = i'm angry
an exception would be: estoy loco = i'm crazy
another would be: estoy ciego = i'm blind

to say that something is made of, filled with, etc.
Estoy hecho de carne y sangre = i'm made of flesh and blood
la silla está hecha de madera = the chair is made of wood
el vaso está lleno de coca = the glass is filled with coke


Soy describes personality, nature, essence
soy hombre = i'm (a) male
soy americano = i'm american
soy alto = i'm tall
soy inteligente = i'm smart
soy humano = i'm human
soy hijo de = i'm (the) son of
soy extrovertido = i'm outgoing
soy tímido = i'm shy
soy melancólico = i'm (a) melancholic (person)
soy feliz = i'm (a) happy (person)
soy enojón = i'm grumpy
soy chris = i'm chris
soy romántico = i'm romantic
soy gracioso = i'm funny


The meaning can change with some adjectives when using soy and estoy:
estoy aburrido = i'm bored; soy aburrido = i'm boring
estoy retrasado = i'm late; soy retrasado = i'm retarded
estoy bueno = i'm hot; soy bueno = i'm good (in mexico)

And some doesn't change:
soy casado =i'm married = estoy casado

That's all i can think of at this hour.
Hope that helps

Answer 2

In general, ser is for permanent characteristics, and estar is for temporary conditions or unexpected conditions.

For example, if you are describing the physical characteristics of a person, you use ser: "Es alto. Es guapo."
If you are describing the person's condition at the moment: "Está cansado." This is a condition that you don't expect to last a long time.

This distinction is especially important to make for the adjective "loco", because typically if you want to say "You're crazy", you should render that as "Estás loco." "Eres loco" would mean something like a very matter-of-fact statement like, "You are a mental patient." and would not be the fun response that you intend.

In the case of the adjective "aburrido", the use of ser or estar is very important because you could be unintentionally offensive.
"Ella es aburrida" means that the person you're talking about is boring, while "Ella está aburrida" means that she's bored. (Notice, again, that this exhibits the general permanent/temporary pattern.)

Also, you should be aware that estar is used for location. So even though the location of say, Mexico, doesn't change much, "Mexico está en las Américas." Always. In fact, the use of estar without any kind of prepositional phrase expresses the idea of being here: "Ella no está." would be translated in English as "She's not here." (depending on whatever place you're talking about in the context)

There are some more advanced subtleties to using ser/estar, but you should probably get a pretty good handle on what I've written above before mastering those. Here are a couple, though, for when you're ready to go on:
Although I previously mentioned that ser is used for location, ser is used for the idea of taking place or happening in a certain location. "El concierto es en el auditorio." could be translated as "The concert will take place in the auditorium."

Estar is used to describe unexpected characteristics, or characteristics that seem distant in time. For example, the normal color for oranges is orange, so "Las naranjas son de color naranja." But if you see some oranges that are not ripe, that is not their typical or expected condition, so "Las naranjas están verdes."

The previous answerer is correct that estar is used with "muerto", but actually both ser and estar can be used with "casado", but in different grammatical constructions.

Answer 3

I have a very simple and gernral rule to remember this.

You need
H (health)
E (emotion)
L (location)
P (present progressive)
to remember the uses for "estar."

All other cases, generally things that are more permanent, like physical features, use "ser."

There are some other phrases in Spanish that made use either verbs that can't be directly translated into English.

Answer 4

Ser is used for things that will always be the same, the way something is by nature.... nationality, personality, etc... Estar is used when something can change or is not going to last. For example I can say "Eres muy bonita!" (You are a beautiful girl) but I can say "Estas muy bonita hoy!" (You look beautiful today). I have always been and always will be Canadian, so I would say "soy canadiense". If I am angry about something, "estoy enojado" because I will not always be angry, mood changes. But if someone is an angry person in general, "esta un/a enojado/a". It just takes a bit of practice, but soon it will start to come naturally! Good luck :)

Answer 5

Ser tells you what something is, the nature of its being, while estar refers more to what something does. I might use soy (the first-person present of ser) to tell you what I am, but I'd use estoy (the first-person present of estar) to tell you what I am being.


ex. I might say, "Estoy enfermo." That would tell you that I am being sick, that I am sick at the moment.

But it doesn't tell you what I am. Now if I were to say, "Soy enfermo," that would have a different meaning entirely. That would refer to who I am, to the nature of my being. We might translate that as "I am a sick person" or "I am sickly.


Estoy cansado, I am tired. Soy cansado, I am a tired person.
Estoy feliz, I'm happy now. Soy feliz, I am happy by nature.
Está callada, she's being quiet. Es callada, she's introverted.
No soy listo, I'm not a quick thinker. Estoy listo, I'm ready.

Answer 6

"Ser para siempre o estar solo por ahora"
To Be for ever or To Be only for the moment

That's the way I remember it.

Unfortunately, they say "estar casado" and "estar muerto"

The exception that confirms the rule...

:)

Answer 7

i am not Spanish speaker.but ser is for permanent status while estar is for temporary.if you are beautiful ser is to used.but if you are drunk estar should be used.

Answer 8

http://www.mansionspanish.com
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