Uses of ser and estar (Usos de ser y estar) The English verb to be has two Spanish equivalents, ser and estar, which have distinct, non-interchangeable uses. 1. Uses of ser Ser expresses a fundamental quality and serves to identify the essence of a person or thing: who or what the subject ¡s. a. lt describes the basic nature or inherent characteristics of a person or thing, including age. Ernesto es moreno y guapo. Ernesto ¡s dark and handsome. Estela es joven. Estela ¡s young. b. lt ¡s used with de to indicate origin and with adjectives denoting nationality. Carmen es cubana; es de La Habana. Carmen ¡s Cuban; she ¡s from Havana. c. lt ¡s used to identify professions and jobs. Yo soy profesor(a). I am a professor, d. With de, ¡t ¡s used to indicate possession or relationship. Ellas son las hermanas del profesor. They are the professors sisters. e. With de, ¡t describes the material that things are made of. El teléfono es de plástico. The telephone ¡s (made of) plastic. La mesa es de metal. The table ¡s (made of) metal. f. lt ¡s used with expressions of time and with dates.

Son las cuatro y media. It ¡s four-thirty. Hoy es jueves, primero de julio. Today ¡s Thursday, July first. g. lt ¡s used with events as the equivalent of "taking place." La fiesta es en mi casa. The party ¡s (taking place) at my house.

2. Uses of estar Estar has a more transitory quality than ser and implies the possibility of change. a. lt indicates place or_location. Alicia está en la oficina de correos. Alicia is at the post office. b. lt indicates a condition, often the result of an action, at a given moment in time. Estoy cansado(a). I am tired. La puerta está cerrada. The door is closed. c. With personal reactions, ¡t describes what is perceived through the senses-that is, how a subject tastes, feels, looks, or seems. ¡Estás muy bonita hoy! You look very pretty today! d. In present progressive constructions, ¡t describes-an action in progress. Estoy estudiando. I am studyíng.