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Learn Spanish 1.11 - Ser vs. Estar (part 2)

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http://www.SpanishDict.com/learn - One of the hardest things you learn in Spanish is now the easiest. Learn the difference between the two "to be" verbs Ser and Estar. http://www.SpanishDict.com is the world's largest Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and language learning website. We develop and provide reliable, accurate, easy-to-use resources for learning Spanish.

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Learn Spanish 1.11 - Ser vs. Estar (part 1)

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http://www.SpanishDict.com/learn - One of the hardest things you learn in Spanish is now the easiest. Learn the difference between the two "to be" verbs Ser and Estar. http://www.SpanishDict.com is the world's largest Spanish-English dictionary, translation, and language learning website. We develop and provide reliable, accurate, easy-to-use resources for learning Spanish.

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6 tips to understand the differences between ser and estar

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6 tips to understand the differences between ser and estar

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Most Spanish language learners want to pull their hair out when deciding whether to use or . Like and , ser and estar can be very tricky for learners. Ser and estar both mean to be and are used frequently in daily Spanish communication. While it can be confusing, we have some quick tips that will alleviate your headache and make you more confident when differentiating between these two tricky verbs.

Use ser for permanence and estar for transience

This first tip is the guiding rule for figuring out when to use ser and estar. As you may already know, the main difference between ser and estar is that ser refers to more permanent traits of someone or something, while estar refers to transient conditions. Check out the difference in the following two examples:

In this first example, notice how we use ser for descriptions that are physical traits, which should not, under normal circumstances, change.

In the second example, we used with the adjective because Sandra's confusion is a non-permanent condition; today, Sandra is confused while finding her way to the restaurant, but she may not still be confused tomorrow.

Use estar when describing something in the moment

When we use ser to describe the qualities or characteristics of a person, place, or thing, the meaning behind those descriptions are disassociated from time or duration. However, when we use estar to describe the same attributes, they become associated with the short period of time in which the speaker is using them. Let's look at some examples where the context can switch when we use these two different verbs:

In the example above, the speaker is equating his or her girlfriend with being beautiful. The description of beauty exists outside of any parameters of time.

In the second example, the speaker uses estar to highlight that the person that she or he is referring to in the sentence is especially beautiful while she is wearing the wedding dress.

Use estar for location, except when speaking about events

Estar is usually used to describe where a person or thing is physically located. Although an event takes place at a physical location, when speaking about events occurring at a specific point in time, you should use ser. If the meaning of the verb is to be held or to take place, make sure you use ser. Let's take a look at a couple of examples:

In the first example, the speaker uses estar to indicate the location of the exam, where the exam being referred to is the physical collection of papers with questions on them.

In the second example, the speaker uses ser instead because the exam being referred to is the event where the students will take the physical exam. We would use in this way most commonly with words that are events, such as ( a date), ( a party), or even ( a concert).

Use ser for an action and estar for a current condition

Use ser when you're talking about the action taken on something or someone. Use estar when you're talking about someone or something's state. In the first example, notice how the focus is on the actual action of the family cooking the soup:

In this second example, we'll use estar because the focus is on the resulting state of the soup, that is that it has been cooked and is ready to be eaten.

Use estar to describe how food tastes

Although ser is usually used for permanent and descriptive characteristics, use estar to describe how food tastes. In the example below, we use estar because we are referring to the particular churro that will only exist for that point in time in which it is in front of us before or just after we have eaten it:

When referring to food on a menu or the menu's selection of food itself, we use ser instead of estar because we are instead making reference to food items that are static and don't change. For example:

We hope that these tips will help you feel more confident when using ser or estar. And remember, it's okay to make mistakes! The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to choose the right verb!

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Quick Tips for Understanding "Ser" and "Estar" | SpanishDict

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Most Spanish language learners want to pull their hair out when deciding whether to use or . Like and , ser and estar can be very tricky for learners. Ser and estar both mean to be and are used frequently in daily Spanish communication.

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"Ser" vs. "Estar" Practice Quiz | SpanishDict

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Learn about "ser" vs. "estar" with fun practice quizzes.

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Feelings & emotions in Spanish - Sentimientos y emociones en español

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LOS SENTIMIENTOS Y LAS EMOCIONES. This video covers some common emotions and feelings in Spanish (examples + tips + audio). Each slide has some common Spanish expressions related to the Spanish feelings shown in the picture so you will be able to say how you feel in Spanish (cómo te sientes), talk about a specific emotion in Spanish (decir que te pasa).

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Describing people in Spanish: important adjectives and verbs

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Physical descriptions in Spanish -- In this video you will learn how to describe people's appearance in Spanish and yourself too with some common Spanish adjectives and verbs. Here what this video covers 1. Some common Spanish adjectives to describe people (pictures + audios) 2.

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Ser vs Estar - Using Both with a change in Meaning (intermediate)

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Video: When to use SER (DOCTOR)

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Ser vs Estar - Using Ser + Uses of Ser Song! (intermediate)

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SER and ESTAR are the two forms of the verb to be in Spanish. ESTAR is an irregular verb that you must know as it is really common in the language. In this lesson, we will learn to conjugate this verb and how to make sentences using ESTAR. You will have the chance to test yourself at the end of the lesson with an interactive quiz. Let's begin...

Introductory video: Using SER and ESTAR in Spanish

We will begin the lesson with a short video explaining the basics about the verbs SER and ESTAR in Spanish. The video includes several example of situations where we might use them. Pay attention to the examples using ESTAR in the video and the main differences between SER and ESTAR. Make sure to stick until the end of the video as it will help you understand the rest of the lesson more easily.

Grammar video quiz: The verb to be in Spanish

How to conjugate ESTAR in Spanish in the present tense

Since ESTAR is an irregular verb, "un verbo irregular", it will change depending on the subject of the sentence. The verb ESTAR will be conjugated as ESTOY for the pronoun YO as in " Yo estoy enojado", as ESTÁS for the personal pronoun TÚ as in " Tú estás hambriento", and as ESTÁ for ÉL, USTED and ELLAS as in " Él está enfermo". Remember you can omit the pronoun when making sentences in Spanish, but keeping the correct conjugation of the verb.

For the pronoun NOSOTROS, ESTAR will be conjugated as ESTAMOS like in " Nosotros estamos felices"and for VOSOTROS we will use ESTÁIS as in " Vosotros estáis felices ". Finally, for the pronouns USTEDES and ELLOS, we will use ESTÁN. Please remember to put a tilde over the right vowel when needed. Here is a picture showing how to conjugate ESTAR in Spanish for all the pronouns.

How to Make Sentences using ESTAR in Spanish

Talking about states in Spanish with ESTAR

One of the most popular uses of ESTAR is for talking about about emotional, health or any other temporary states in Spanish. These states are often represented by words like enfermo(sick), enojado (angry) or hambriento (hungry) that tend to change over time. For instance, today someone might be "enfermo" and tomorrow "saludable". Moreover, ESTAR will be used when talking about the weather in a specific day, the seasons, days and months. Listen to the some examples of sentences using ESTAR in Spanish to talk about states:

Using ESTAR plus prepositions of place to indicate location

Another very common use of ESTAR is indicate the location of things or people. To do so, we will use ESTAR plus prepositions of place in Spanish to say where objects are placed. This kind of sentences using ESTAR are very useful for giving directions of places as well. Below there are some examples with ESTAR plus prepositions to talk about location, focusing on the conjugations for the pronouns NOSOTROS and VOSOTROS.

Using ESTAR for the present progressive

ESTAR plays the role of an auxiliary verb for the present progressive in Spanish, that is actions in progress for sentences like " Yo estoy estudiando" (I am studying). ESTAR will be conjugated normally for all the pronouns as it was done previously, but the main verb will be used with an "-ando" or "-iendo" ending. Here is the last group of examples of sentences using ESTAR for the present progressive and the weather.

Lesson quiz: Using ESTAR in Spanish

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Making Sentences using ESTAR in Spanish (with audio) - SpanishLearningLab

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Learn to conjugate the verb ESTAR in Spanish in the present tense and listen to some examples of sentences using ESTAR to talk about feelings, the location of things, actions in progress and more. Practice ESTAR sentences with a nice interactive quiz on this topic.

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As we have seen in previous lessons, the verb to be in Spanish has two forms: SER and ESTAR. Both of them are irregular verbs. In this lesson, we will learn to conjugate SER in Spanish for all the pronouns, and more importantly, how to make sentences using SER in Spanish to talk about different situations. This lesson includes several nice resources for you to see the verb in use and practice too.

Introductory video: The verbs SER and ESTAR in Spanish

We will begin the lesson with a short video explaining the basics about both SER and ESTAR. The video includes several examples of situations in which we might use them. This video was also part of our lesson about ESTAR, so if you have studied that lesson before, then many things will make more sense now. Pay attention to the examples in the video and the main differences between both verbs.

Grammar video quiz: The verb to be in Spanish

How to conjugate SER in Spanish in the present tense

As we mentioned before, SER is an irregular verb so it will change its form for most pronouns. First, it will be conjugated as SOY for the pronoun YO, so we will say " Yo soy...". For the remaining pronouns, we will use these forms: " Tú eres...", " Vos sos...", " Él/Ella/Usted es...", " Nosotros somos...", " Vosotros sois..." and " Ustedes/Ellos son...". The picture below shows all the conjugations we mentioned before and some sentences with SER in Spanish.

How to make sentences using SER in Spanish: explanations + audio

Using SER in Spanish to describe people and other things

SER is normally used in many topics including physical descriptions, to describe houses, to talk about clothes, to say what the weather is like and many other purposes. In general, sentences with SER will use the form ES to describe a single object and SON for several. The main difference between both SER and ESTAR is that SER describes things that will not change easily over time or that never change at all such as "Él es inteligente" (He is intelligent.) and "La tierra es redonda" (the earth is round.).

As you can see in the examples, SER is used with adjectives to describe something. ESTAR has the same use when talking about conditions that will change soon, for example: "El clima está frío". This last example means that the weather is cold today but maybe it was warm in the past few days. On the other hand, "El clima es frío" means that the weather is always cold in that place. Here are some sentences using SER for descriptions in Spanish

Using SER in Spanish to say where you are from, the time and your job

SER is also used to talk about countries and nationalities, "países y nacionalidades", to say your country of origin, for telling time using "ES and SON + the hour" and also for talking about your occupation. Here are some more sentences with SER in Spanish for these purposes.

¿Cómo es la casa? - La casa es lujosa y espaciosa. Está limpia.

What does the house look like? - The house is luxurious and spacious. It's clean.

¿De dónde eres? - Yo soy de Brasil, pero estoy trabajando en Paraguay.

Where are you from? - I'm from Brazil, but I'm working in Paraguay.

¿Qué hora es? - Es la 1 de la tarde ¿Ya estamos cerca?

What time is it? - It is the 1 pm. Are we close?

¿Qué haces? - Soy maestro. Es un trabajo interesante, pero hoy estoy cansado.

What are you doing? - I am a teacher. It is an interesting job, but I'm tired today.

Grammar Quiz: The verb SER in Spanish

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Making Sentences using SER in Spanish (with audio) - SpanishLearningLab

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This lesson explains how to conjugate the verb SER in Spanish in the present tense and how to make sentences using SER to describe people and objects, and talk about jobs, nationalities, time and many other things. Besides, practice with the exercises in a grammar quiz

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1. ¿Quién es el hombre?
2. ¿Dónde está?
3. ¿De dónde es?
4. ¿Qué está haciendo?
5. ¿Cómo es el hombre? (características)
6. ¿Cómo está? y ¿ Cómo es?
7. ¿Qué día es? ¿Qué hora es?
etc.