Ser vs estar
A1Grammar path · Lesson 10 of 86 · Stage A1 · Talking about people
Spanish has two verbs for 'to be', and you choose between them in almost every sentence. Use ser for identity, origin, profession, time and lasting traits: soy Ana, es de México. Use estar for temporary states, feelings and location: estoy cansado, el libro está en la mesa. A quick test: if you are asking 'what is it like by nature?', choose ser; if you are asking 'how is it right now?' or 'where is it?', choose estar. The most common trap is location: things and places use estar, but events use ser (la fiesta es en mi casa).
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
sujeto + ser / estar + adjetivosujeto + no + ser / estar + complemento¿(palabra interrogativa) + ser / estar + sujeto?When to use it
Saying who someone is, where they are from, what they do
Identity, nationality, origin, profession and relationships always take ser. These are facts that define a person.
Saying how someone or something is right now
Feelings, health and states that can change take estar. The answer to '¿Cómo estás?' always uses estar.
Saying where things are and where events take place
The location of people, objects and places takes estar. But where an event takes place (a party, a meeting, a concert) takes ser.
Ser and estar in the present
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Choose ser when you define or classify: who, what, where from, what job, what time, lasting traits. If the sentence answers 'what is it?', it is ser.
The verb estarChoose estar when you describe a current condition or a location: tired, happy, busy, at home, on the table. If the sentence answers 'how is it now?' or 'where is it?', it is estar.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it 'la fiesta es en mi casa' and not estar?
When you say where an event takes place, Spanish uses ser. Estar is only for the location of people, objects and places.
Do I use ser or estar for time and dates?
Use ser: Son las tres. Hoy es lunes.
What is the difference between ser aburrido and estar aburrido?
Ser aburrido means the person is boring. Estar aburrido means the person is bored right now. Some adjectives change meaning depending on the verb.
Is estar only for temporary things?
Not exactly. Permanent locations also take estar (Lima está en Perú), and so do states like death (está muerto).
When do I use hay instead of estar for location?
Use hay to say something unspecified exists: Hay un banco cerca. Use estar for something specific: El banco está cerca.