Spanish Question. Ser & Estar?

Question

Can anyone explain to me the difference between Ser and Estar?

Answer 1

What a mess for forgeiners!

Both ser and estar are translated as to be (you probably knew that)

I'll make some questions:

Who ARE you? i AM a 21 years old guy
What ARE you? i AM a doctor

Where ARE you? i AM at school
How ARE you? i AM sad.

In Spanish:
Quien ERES tu? yo SOY un chico de 21 años
Que ERES tu? yo SOY un doctor

Donde ESTAS tu? yo ESTOY en la escuela
Como ESTAS tu? yo ESTOY triste

As you can see in English it's the same.... In Spanish it's quite diferent for WHO/WHAT questions/answers we use SER
for WHERE/HOW questions/answers we use Estar

Answer 2

Just as the others are saying, when you are talking about the identity of a subject, i.e. physical description, where they are from, etc...you will use ser, and with location and temporary condition, estar.

Just remember this phrase: To tell how you feel and where you are, always use the verb estar. It works!!

Answer 3

ooohhh ooohh i know!!

My spanish teacher taught me this one:

Ser:
Soy Somos
Eres Sois
Es Son

Remember Ser by STOPPP
Ser
Time (Es el tres de la manana) It is 3 in the morning
Origin (Soy de Mexico) I am from mexico
Profession (soy una profesora) I am a teacher
Personality (Yo soy simpatica) I am nice
Physical Description (yo soy alta) I am tall

remember estar by: EFHELP

Estar
Estoy Estamos
Estas Estais
Esta Estan

Estar
Feeling (Estoy bien) I am Good
Health (Estoy emfermo) I am Sick
Emotion (Estoy triste) I am Sad
Location (Estoy en el Supermercado) I am in the Supermarket
Present Progressive (Estoy hablando) I am typing

Answer 4

ser is something you always are, a condition you can't change (or really hard to change) like "I am Spanish", "I am a woman"

estar is something you are today but might not be tomorrow, "i am hungry", "i am at home"

Answer 5

Ser is to describe things that are THAT WAY... Period. It is used to describe general, inherit appearance:tall, short, handsome, ugly.It is used for quantities, possessions and origin/place of birth.

Estar is to decribe where one is located as a change of location. It is also used as a state of being or moods, such as: happy sad and crazy. I nthe progressive tenses of the verbs forming with "-ing," such as I am writing (RIGHT NOW)- Estoy esribiendo.

Answer 6

Ser is for permanent things. Estar is for non-permanent things.

Examples:
Soy americana. (I'm American.)
Estoy cansada (I'm tired)

However, the exception is location: Even though it may be permanent, you use estar.

Example:
Madrid esta en Espana (Madrid is in Spain)

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

you can use "ser" for permanent conditions ex.

Soy doctor (I'm a doctor) ¿Eres mexicano? (Are you mexican?)
Juan es alto y rubio (Juan is tall and blond)

you can use "estar" for temporary conditions ex.

Estoy feliz (I'm happy "in this moment") ¿Estás caminando? (Are you walking? "in this moment")

For location we prefer "estar" that can be translated like "be located"

París está en Francia (Paris is located in France)

I hope I can help you, I'm Mexican and I'm in Mexico

Answer 8

Here is how I teach it to students to whom I teach Spanish.

STOOP & ELF

Ser
Time (Son las dos)
Occupation (Son una doctoras.)
Origin (Es de los EEUU)
Personal Characteristic (Ella es alta.)

Estar
Location (Estoy en casa)
Feeling (Él está enfermo)

That is a good building block. As a rule of thumb, if it is a temporary state, Estar.

Answer 9

Ser is like a permanent condition . . you are male or female.

Estar is a temporary condition . . . you are hungry, you are happy, you are in the kitchen.

Hope that helps!

Answer 10

some examples may be:ESTOY FELIZ
ESTOY CANSADO
ESTOY TARDE
iam happy,i am tired,i am late.

QUIERO SER FELIZ TODA MI VIDA
i want to be happy all my life