How do you say "To be" in spanish. ex: I want to be smarter?

Answer 1

Ser is for things that are permanent and estar is for things that are more temporary or changing. This is how "ser" and "estar) are conjugated in the present, preterite and imperfect tense.

"I want to be smarter"- Quiero ser más inteligente. (You use ser because intelligence is something you ARE. Not a current feeling or something that is temporary.)

Ser-Present

Ex: She is pretty. (Ella es bonita.)

Soy- I/Yo
Eres- You/Tu
Es- He/She/You(formal)/Ella/El/Usted
Somos- We/Nosotros
Son- They/Y'all/Ellas(os)

Ser-Preterite

Fui-I/Yo
Fuiste- You/Tu
Fue- He/She/You(formal)/Ella/El/Usted
Fuimos- We/Nosotros
Fueron- They/Y'all/Ellas(os)

Ser-Imperfect

Era " "
Eras " "
Era " "
Eramos " "
Eran " "

Estar- "to be" conditional (ex: feeling, temporary)

Example: I am tired. (Estoy cansada)

Estar-Present

Estoy
Estás
Está
Estamos
Están

Estar- Preterite

Estuve
Estuviste
Estuvo
Estuvimos
Estuvieron

Estar-Imperfect

Estaba
Estabas
Estaba
Estabamos
Estaban

Answer 2

Quiero ser mas inteligente.In this case you can also say--quiero estar mas inteligente.
In Spanish we have 2 verbs which translate as --to be--ser--and--estar.
In my grammar I have a full page for each verb with maybe 30-40 different forms. Aren't you happy English is easier?

Answer 3

ser


Yo quiero SER más inteligente.

If the condition described is temporary, the verb is "estar"
I'm going to be in San Francisco this weekend.
Voy a estar en San Francisco este fin de semana.