9.1.10

'Ser' or 'Estar'

Test yourself

'Ser' or 'Estar'

Using the wrong verb can change the meaning of a phrase. You have to be careful when selecting which verb to use.

Illustrative background for To be open vs be an open characterIllustrative background for To be open vs be an open character ?? "content

To be open vs be an open character

  • The phrase 'to be open' in Spanish would be 'estar abierto/a'.
    • La puerta está abierta.
  • But if you use 'ser' instead, the phrase changes meaning to talk about someone's character.
    • Chris es abierto.
      • Chris is an open person.
Illustrative background for To be ready vs to be cleverIllustrative background for To be ready vs to be clever ?? "content

To be ready vs to be clever

  • If you want to say that 'you are ready, 'estar' would need to be used.
    • Estoy listo.
      • I am ready.
  • But if you were talking about intelligence you would need to use 'ser'.
    • Soy listo.
      • I am clever.
Illustrative background for To be proud of vs to be entitledIllustrative background for To be proud of vs to be entitled ?? "content

To be proud of vs to be entitled

  • Being proud is a temporary state, you are not always proud of someone, so 'estar' is needed.
    • Mis padres están orgullosos de mí.
      • My parents are proud of me.
  • But if you use 'ser' here the meaning is changed.
    • Mis padres son orgullosos.
      • My parents are entitled/arrogant.
Illustrative background for To be handsomeIllustrative background for To be handsome ?? "content

To be handsome

  • To say that someone is good-looking you would need to use 'ser'.
    • Zach es guapa.
      • Zach is handsome (a handsome man).
  • This is an inherent quality.
  • But if you say someone looks handsome 'estar' is needed.
  • Someone could look handsome because of clothes or a haircut, so it is temporary.
    • Zach está guapo.
      • Zach looks handsome today (today is temporal).

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Everyday Activities

3Personal & Social Life

4The World Around Us

5The World of Work

6The International World

7Listening

7.1Time Expressions - Listening

7.2The Human Body & Health - Listening

7.3Food & Drink - Listening

7.4Travel & Transport - Listening

7.5Self, Family & Friends - Listening

7.6In the Home - Listening

7.7Colours - Listening

7.8Clothes & Accesories - Listening

7.9Leisure Time - Listening

7.10People & Places - Listening

7.11The Environment - Listening

7.12Communications & Technology - Listening

7.13The Built Environment - Listening

7.14Measurements - Listening

7.15Materials - Listening

7.16The World of Work - Listening

7.17Culture, Customs, Faith & Celebrations

8Common Tenses

8.1Present Tense

8.2Preterite Tense

8.3Imperfect Tense

8.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses

8.5Future Tense

9Important Verbs

10Advanced Tenses

10.1Future

10.2Conditional

10.3Continuous Tenses

10.4Perfect Tense

10.5Passive

10.6Present Subjunctive

10.7Imperfect Subjunctive

10.8Imperative

11Extra Grammar

11.1Articles

11.2Negatives

11.3Nouns

11.4Asking Questions

11.5Adjectives

11.6Adverbs

11.7Conjunctions

11.8Pronouns

11.9Prepositions

11.10Verbs

11.11Comparisons & Superlative

11.12Numbers, Expressions of Quantity, Dates & Times

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