Ser o Estar (Both “to be’’) How to know which to use

 In English language, the verb “ to be’’ is very important both in the spoken and the written aspect. It is a grammatical foundation one can simply not do without. The same goes for the Spanish language but the difference there is that the Spanish language has two verbs that can both be translated as “to be” (ser y estar). Over the years, this has proven to be very problematic and complicated to Spanish language learners for they find it difficult in knowing which verb to apply in different situations since they both mean “to be”.

Thus, with the aim of clearing our doubts on which verb to use in any situation, these are the situations in which you can apply the verbs:

                                                    Ser

1.     Ser means to be in the sense of to exist. It establishes identity between the subject and a noun , a pronoun, or an infinitive used as a noun indicating who someone or what something is.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-La mujer es una cantante española.

   The woman is a Spanish Singer.

-Ella es una pintora mexicana.

   She is a Mexican painter.

-Lo que más me gusta es cantar.

  What I like best is singing.

2.     Ser is used to indicate origin (country, nationality, etc), ownership, material or destination.

Por ejemplo (For example)

 -¿De dónde eres?

  Where are you from?

-Soy de México.

  I’m from Mexico.

-Soy mexicana-no.

  I’m Mexican.

-¿De quién es el lápiz?

   Who owns the pencil?

-Es de Marta.

  It’s Marta’s.

-La camiseta es de lana.

  The shirt or vest is (made of) wool.

-¿Para quién es el bizcocho?

  For whom is the biscuit? or Whom is the biscuit meant for?

-Es para ella.

  It’s for her. Or It’s meant for her.

3.     Ser means to take place, to happen.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-La fiesta es en Madrid.

  The party is in Madrid.

-La exposición fue en otro museo.

  The exhibit was in another museum.

4.     Ser is used to tell the time of day, season,date, etc.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-Son las siete y media.

  It’s half past seven.

-Ya es invierno y va a nevar.

  It’s already winter and it’s going to snow.

-Hoy es el 18 de diciembre de 2018.

  Today is 18th December 2018.

5.     Ser tells us the characteristics of a person or thing when combined with an adjective.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-Soy muy inteligente y guapa.

  I’m very intelligent and pretty.

-El chico es egoísta y tacaño.

  The boy is selfish and stingy.

-¿Cómo es la nueva chica?

  What’s the new girl like?

-Es simpática y guapísima.

  She’s kind and very pretty.

-La película es muy interesante.

  The movie is very interesting.

6.     Ser is used for professions, social groups, etc.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-Mi tío es médico.

  My uncle is a doctor.

-El chico prefiere ser dentista.

  The boy prefers to be a dentist.

-Mi tía es joven.

  My aunt is young.

-Son ricos.

  They’re rich.

-María es católica.

  María is Catholic.

7.     Ser when combined with the past participle, is used to form the passive voice when an agent is implied.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-La película fue dirigida por Steven Spielberg.

  The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg.

-El hospital ha sido construido por el gobierno.

  The hospital has been built by the government.

                                         Estar

Estar never links the subject with a noun, pronoun or infinitive like ser does; rather it may be followed by a preposition, an adverb of place, an adjective, a present participle (gerundio), and a past participle.

1.     Estar expresses location, which is usually followed by a preposition or an adverb.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-El chico está en España.

  The boy is in Spain.

-El banco está cerca de la escuela.

  The bank is close from the school.

2.     Estar is used to form the progressive tense when combined with the present participle (-ndo form)

Por ejemplo (For example)

-Sofía está comiendo.

  Sofía is eating.

3.     Estar refers to a condition or state of the subject when combined with adjectives or past participles.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-María está enferma.

  María is sick.

-La cámara está rota.

  The camera is broken.

-Tras haber trabajado mucho, Claudia estaba cansada.

  After having worked a lot, Claudia was tired.

4.     Also estar is used with an adjective or past participle, estar often conveys the idea of: to look, to feel, to seem, to act, which refers to a characteristic of the subject as viewed subjectively by the speaker or writer.

Por ejemplo (For example)

-Estás muy pálida hoy.

  You are very pale today. (You look pale to me.)

-Sara estuvo muy amable con los niños ayer.

  Sara was (acted) very nice to the kids yesterday.

Summary (Resumen)

Ser: (Description, time, date, location-(to take place) and passive voice.)

Estar: (Location, progressive tense, a condition or state of the subject and a subjective characteristic view.)

Text credit:

Repase y escriba (cuarta edición) by Dominicis and Reynolds.