The verb ser
A1Grammar path · Lesson 8 of 86 · Stage A1 · Talking about people
You need ser from your very first conversation: to give your name, your job, your nationality, or to describe what someone or something is like. It is irregular, so learn the present forms by heart: soy, eres, es, somos, son. The pattern is simple: subject + form of ser + noun or adjective, as in Soy estudiante or Ella es alta. To make it negative, put no before the verb. Its big rival is estar, which also means 'to be': use ser for what something is, and estar for where it is or how it is right now.
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
sujeto + soy/eres/es/somos/son + sustantivo/adjetivosujeto + no + soy/eres/es/somos/son + sustantivo/adjetivo¿soy/eres/es/somos/son + sujeto + sustantivo/adjetivo?When to use it
Saying who someone is: name, job, relationship
Use ser to introduce yourself or others. With jobs, you usually leave out the article un/una.
Talking about origin and nationality
Use ser + de + place to say where someone is from, or ser + a nationality adjective.
Describing lasting characteristics
Use ser with adjectives for built-in traits such as looks, personality or size. It describes what someone or something is like, not a passing state.
How “ser” changes
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate ser in the present tense?
Yo soy, tú eres, él/ella/usted es, nosotros somos, ellos/ellas/ustedes son. It is irregular, so memorize it.
When do I use ser and when do I use estar?
Use ser for identity, origin and lasting traits; use estar for location and temporary states. Ella es alta, but hoy está cansada.
Do I need to say yo before soy?
Usually not, because soy already shows the subject is 'I'. Add yo only for emphasis or contrast.
Do I use ser to tell the time?
Yes. Say Es la una for one o'clock and Son las tres for other hours.
Do I need un/una when saying my job?
No, just say Soy médico. Add the article only when there is an adjective, as in Soy un médico muy bueno.