'Ser' or 'Estar'
Spanish: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 9.1.10
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Test yourself on 'Ser' or 'Estar'
Which sentence means: 'he has had a haircut. He is handsome' in Spanish?
How do you say 'she is proud of me' in Spanish?