Ser and Estar

• Ser and Estar: Part I

Ser and estar can both be translated as “to be.”

    The apple is green.
    (Meaning the apple is not ripe.)

    The apple is green.
    (Meaning the color of the apple is green.)
In the first case, our example speaks of the condition of the apple.
In the second case, our example speaks of the essential characteristics of the apple.


In English, the verb “to be” can be used to tell how something is (the condition) and what something is (the essence).
    How is the apple?
    It is unripe.
    What color is the apple?
    It is green.

In Spanish, a different verb is used to express “to be” depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.
    La manzana está verde.
    The apple is green. (condition)

    La manzana es verde.
    The apple is green. (essence)

To address condition, use estar. Estar is an irregular verb. It does not follow the standard rules of conjugation for regular -ar verbs.
estoy
estás
está
estamos
estáis
están

To address an essential quality, use ser. Ser is also irregular
soy
eres
es
somos
sois
son
http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/serest1

• Ser and Estar: Part II

Ser is used to express the hour, day, and date.
¿Qué hora es?
Son las dos.

Ser is used to express place of origin.
¿De dónde eres tú?
Soy de Colombia.

Ser is used to express occupation.
    ¿Cuál es tu trabajo?
    What do you do?
    Soy carpintero
    I’m a carpenter.

Ser is used to express nationality.
¿Es ella puertorriqueña?
Is she Puerto Rican?

Ser is used to express religious or political affiliation
¿Es el gobierno socialista?
Is the government socialist?

Ser is used to express the material something is made of.
    ¿De qué material es la mesa?
    What’s the table made of?
    Es de madera.
    It’s made of wood.

Ser is used to express possession.
    ¿De quién es la pluma?
    Whose pen is it?

    Es de Emilio.
    It’s Emilio’s.

Ser is used to express the relationship of one person to another.

    ¿Quién es Rogelio?
    Who is Roger?

    Es el esposo de Marta.
    He’s Martha’s husband.

Ser is used with certain impersonal expressions.
    Es importante practicar cada día.
    It’s important to practice every day.

Ser is used to tell where an event is taking place.
    La película es en el cine.
    The movie is at the theatre.

Ser is used with adjectives to express inherent, or essential qualities.
    Miguel es un hombre sincero.
    Mike is a sincere man.

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/serest2

• Ser and Estar: Part III

Estar is used to express geographic or physical locations.
    ¿Dónde estás?
    Where are you?

    Estoy en el laboratorio.
    I’m in the laboratory.

    ¿Dónde está Chile?
    Where’s Chile?

Estar is used with adjectives to express a state or condition (“how” something is).
    ¿Cómo está la sopa?
    How’s the soup?

Estar is used with many idiomatic expressions. These are just a few.
estar de acuerdo
    to be in agreement

    Uses of estar
    geographic or physical location
    state or condition
    many idiomatic expressions
    progressive tenses
http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/serest3

• Ser and Estar: Part IV

When the verb “to be” is followed by a noun, the verb ser is always used. In this instance, it might be helpful to think of the verb as equivalent to an “equal” sign, such as a = b. This type of sentence is always referring to essential characteristics, since the verb is “linking” what comes before the verb to what comes after the verb

John is a doctor.
John = doctor.
Juan es médico.


When the verb “to be” is followed by an adjective, the verb used depends upon the meaning. When referring to an essential characteristic, use ser. When referring to a state or condition, use estar.

    La sopa está fría.
    The soup is cold.

    Los elefantes son grandes.
    The elephants are big.

When the verb “to be” is followed by an adjective, the verb can actually change the meaning of the adjective.
    El profesor está aburrido.
    The professor is bored.

    El profesor es aburrido.
    The professor is boring.

Let’s distinguish between origin, location, and “to take place.” To describe origin, or where something is from, use ser. To describe location, or where something is located right now, use estar. To tell where an event is taking place, use ser.
    Mónica es de España. (origin)
    Mónica está en Venezuela. (location)
    La fiesta es en la casa de Mónica. (taking place)

    Ser and estar (contrasting uses)
    When a noun follows the verb, use ser
    When an adjective follows the verb, decide between “essence” and “condition”
    To tell where something is from, use ser
    To tell where something is located right now, use estar
    To tell where an event is taking place, use ser
http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/serest4

Spanish Adjectives

• Spanish Adjectives: Part I

most adjectives change form, depending upon whether the word they modify is masculine or feminine. Notice the difference between “the tall boy” and “the tall girl.”
    el chico alto
    la chica alta

Adjectives also change form depending upon whether the word they modify is singular or plural. Notice the difference between “the tall boy” and “the tall boys” ; “the tall girl” and “the tall girls.”
Notice how the endings of the nouns and these adjectives are similar

    el chico alto
    los chicos altos

Adjectives that end in -e also change form for singular or plural. To form the plural, simply add -s.
la chica inteligente
las chicas inteligentes

Adjectives that end in -e do not, however, change form for masculine or feminine
la chica inteligente
el chico inteligente

most adjectives that end in a consonant do change form for singular or plural, but do not change for masculine or feminine. To form the plural, add -es.

    la chica popular
    el chico popular

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/adj1

• Adjectives: Part II

Many adjectives of nationality end in -o. These adjectives follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in -o. That is, they have four forms.

    el muchacho mexicano
    la muchacha mexicana

    los muchachos mexicanos
    las muchachas mexicanas

Many other adjectives of nationality end in a consonant.
    el muchacho español
    la muchacha española

    los muchachos españoles
    las muchachas españolas


There is another group of adjectives that does not follow the normal rules. Adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín also have a feminine form
el chico hablador
la chica habladora

los chicos habladores
las chicas habladoras

Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.
    el chico alto

Adjectives of quantity almost always come before the noun. Such adjectives tell how much or how many.
    pocos libros

Sometimes, a descriptive adjective can precede the noun. If the adjective is descriptive, but speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective comes first.
    la blanca nieve
    the white snow (snow is inherently white)


http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/adj2

Regular Verbs

• Regular Verbs: Part I

There are three categories of verbs:

    -ar verbs (like hablar)
    -er verbs (like comer)
    -ir verbs (like vivir)


hablar – to speak
yo hablo
    I speak
usted habla
    you speak
nosotros/as hablamos
    we speak
ustedes hablan
    you-all speak

comer – to eat
yo como
    I eat
usted come
    you eat
nosotros/as comemos
    we eat
ustedes comen
    you-all eat


vivir – to live
yo vivo
    I live
usted vive
    you live
nosotros/as vivimos
    we live
ustedes viven
    you-all live

Present tense (indicative) in Spanish means three things.

    Yo hablo inglés:

    I speak English.
    I do speak English.
    I am speaking English.

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/regverb1

• Regular Verbs: Part II

hablar
tú hablas
    you (familiar) speak
él habla
    he speaks
ella habla
    she speaks
vosotros/as habláis
    you-all (familiar) speak
ellos/ellas hablan
    they speak

comer
tú comes
    you (familiar) eat
él come
    he eats
ella come
    she eats
vosotros/as coméis
    you-all (familiar) eat
ellos/ellas comen
    they eat

vivir
tú vives
    you (familiar) live
él vive
    he lives
ella vive
    she lives
vosotros/as vivís
    you-all (familiar) live
ellos/ellas viven
    they live


http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/regverb2

• Regular Verbs: Part III

To conjugate -ar verbs, drop the ending and add:
    -o
    -as
    -a
    -amos
    -áis
    -an

To conjugate -er verbs, drop the ending and add:
    -o
    -es
    -e
    -emos
    -éis
    -en

To conjugate -ir verbs, drop the ending and add:
    -o
    -es
    -e
    -imos
    -ís
    -en

In Spanish the subject pronouns are not always required. This is because the verb endings can indicate who is performing the action.
Hablo español. (Yo is not necessary.)
I speak Spanish.

Subject pronouns are often used for clarification. For example, the verb form habla is ambiguous.
    Ud. habla
    él habla
    ella habla

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/regverb3

Subject Pronouns

• Subject Pronouns

yo
    I
usted
    you
él
    he
ella
    she
nosotros
    we
ustedes
    you-all
ellos
    they

Speaking to your teacher: usted
Speaking to your friend: tú

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/subpro

The Verb Form "hay"

• The Verb Form "hay"

    Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca.
    There are many books in the library.

    Hay un libro encima de la mesa.
    There is a book on the table.


    ¿Hay un hotel en el centro?
    Is there a hotel downtown?

    ¿Hay algunos libros por aquí?
    Are there any books around here?

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/hay

Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles: Part I

the definite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.
el gato
    the male cat
los gatos
    the male cats
la gata
    the female cat
las gatas
    the female cats

The masculine plural definite and indefinite articles (los, unos) are also used to indicate a group of mixed sex. Thus, “los gatos” could refer to a group of 10 male cats, or it could refer to a group of 9 female cats and one male cat.


the indefinite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the
noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.
un gato
    a male cat
unos gatos
    some male cats
una gata
    a female cat
unas gatas
    some female cats

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/defart1

Plural Forms of Nouns

• Plural Forms of Nouns

If a noun ends in a vowel, make it plural by adding -s.

libro: libros
    (libro + s)

The definite articles (el, la) also change in the plural form. They become “los” and “las.”

If a noun ends in a consonant, make it plural by adding -es.
la universidad: las universidades
    (universidad + es)
el profesor: los profesores
    (profesor + es)

If a noun ends in -ión, add -es and drop the written accent.
el avión: los aviones
la conversación: las conversaciones


If a noun ends in -z, add -es and change the z to c.
la voz: las voces
la actriz: las actrices

When the plural refers to two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural is used.
1 gato + 8 gatas = 9 gatos (not gatas)

These compound nouns are always masculine, and the plural is formed by changing the “el” to “los.”
el abrelatas
los abrelatas

http://studyspanish.com/grammar/lessons/plnoun