Transcript SER vs ESTAR

SER vs ESTAR
The verb SER is used to show a permanent
characteristic of a person or thing.
The boy is tall
The house is green
El chico es alto
La casa es verde
The verb ESTAR is used to show a temporary
condition or to show location.
The boy is ill
El chico está enfermo
The book is on the desk
El libro está en el escritorio
To remember the uses of SER remember the word
C note [$100 bill]
Characteristics
Nationality
Origin
Time
Equivilence
El chico es alto
Ana es chilena
Elena es de Perú
Son las dos y media
Mi hermana es médica
To remember the use of ESTAR, think of the
phrase “True Love Forever.
Temporary condition
Ana está lista [ready]
Location
Los carros están en el garaje
Feelings [physical or emotional]
Enrique está triste. [sad]
SER and ESTAR cannot be interchanged. If the
wrong verb is used, the meaning of the
sentence will be changed.
Ana está lista
Ana is ready
Ana es lista
Ana is clever
La manzana es verde
The apple is green
[its natural color]
La manzana está verde
The apple is green
[not ripe]