4.2.8

'Ser' or 'Estar' (2/2)

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'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.

Estar orgulloso

Estar orgulloso

  • Being proud of someone is a temporary feeling, so we use ‘estar’.
  • Mis padres están orgullosos de mí.
    • My parents are proud of me.
Ser orgulloso

Ser orgulloso

  • But with ‘ser’, 'orgulloso' means arrogant or proud (negatively).
  • Mis padres son orgullosos.
    • My parents are arrogant/entitled.
Ser guapo

Ser guapo

  • To say that someone is good-looking, you would need to use 'ser'.
  • Zach es guapo.
    • Zach is handsome (a handsome man).
Estar guapo

Estar guapo

  • To say that someone looks handsome right now, use ‘estar’.
  • This can be because of clothes, a haircut, or just today — it’s temporary.
  • Zach está guapo.
    • Zach looks handsome.
Jump to other topics
1

You, Family & Home

1.1

Introducing Yourself & Being Polite

1.1.1Name & Age1.1.2Being Polite: Hello1.1.3Being Polite: Please1.1.4Introductions
1.2

Looks & Personality

1.2.1Hair1.2.2Eyes1.2.3Physical Appearance1.2.4Personality
1.3

My Family & I

1.3.1Family Members1.3.2Other Family Members1.3.3Pets
1.4

Days, Months & Time

1.4.1Time1.4.2Days of the Week1.4.3Months of the Year
1.5

Numbers

1.5.1Numbers 1-101.5.2Numbers 11-201.5.3Numbers 21-291.5.4Numbers: 30-391.5.5Numbers: 40-491.5.6Numbers: 50-591.5.7Numbers: 60-691.5.8Numbers: 70-791.5.9Numbers: 80-891.5.10Numbers: 90-100
2

School & Jobs

2.1

School

2.1.1School Subjects (1/2)2.1.2School Subjects (2/2)
3

Free Time

3.1

Free Time

3.1.1Sports: Jugar3.1.2Sports: Hacer3.1.3Music
3.2

Town

3.2.1Shops (1/2)3.2.2Shops (2/2)3.2.3Places in Town3.2.4Talking About Places in Town
3.3

Shopping

3.3.1Liking & Not Liking3.3.2Fruit3.3.3Vegetables3.3.4Clothes (1/2)3.3.5Clothes (2/2)
3.4

Holiday

3.4.1Good Weather3.4.2Bad Weather
4

Grammar

4.1

Verbs

4.1.1Subject Pronouns4.1.2Subject Pronouns: Explanation4.1.3Verbs4.1.4Conjugation
4.2

Important Irregular Verbs

4.2.1To Be - Ser4.2.2Uses of 'Ser' (1/2)4.2.3Uses of 'Ser' (2/2)4.2.4To Be - Estar4.2.5Uses of 'Estar' (1/2)4.2.6Uses of 'Estar' (2/2)4.2.7'Ser' or 'Estar' (1/2)4.2.8'Ser' or 'Estar' (2/2)4.2.9To Have4.2.10Uses of 'Tener'
4.3

Regular Verbs in the Present Tense

4.3.1Regular 'AR' Verbs in the Present Tense: 'Hablar'4.3.2Regular 'AR' Verbs in the Present Tense4.3.3Regular 'ER' Verbs in the Present Tense4.3.4'ER' Verbs in the Present: Examples4.3.5Regular 'IR' Verbs in the Present Tense4.3.6Regular 'IR' Verbs in the Present: Examples
4.4

Verbs in the Immediate Future

4.4.1Immediate Future4.4.2Immediate Future: Uses
4.5

Negatives

4.5.1Negatives4.5.2Just the 'Nada' Bit
4.6

Nouns

4.6.1Saying 'A' & 'The' (Singular)4.6.2Saying 'Some' and 'The' (Plural)4.6.3Plural Nouns4.6.4Proper Nouns (1/2)4.6.5Proper Nouns (2/2)
4.7

Adjectives

4.7.1Adjectives4.7.2Adjectives: Spelling4.7.3Adjectives That Don't Change4.7.4'Grande' and 'Bueno'4.7.5Adjectives that Change Endings4.7.6Plural4.7.7Possession
4.8

Prepositions

4.8.1Common Prepositions
4.9

Questions

4.9.1Asking Questions
4.10

Conjunctions

4.10.1What Are Conjunctions?
4.11

Adverbials

4.11.1Adverbs of Manner4.11.2Adverbs of Time4.11.3Adverbs of Place

Practice questions on 'Ser' or 'Estar' (2/2)

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Lucas isn't usually particularly handsome, but today he's had his hair cut and looks handsome. <br><br> How would you say this in Spanish?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Your sister is very intelligent and funny. You admire your sister very much.<br><br> How would you say this in Spanish?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    How do you say 'She is proud of me' in Spanish?Multiple choice
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'Ser' or 'Estar' (1/2)

To Have