The Verb SER

SER VS. ESTAR You already know the verb ESTAR. It means “to be” When do we use ESTAR?

ESTAR Used for telling LOCATION. El libro está en la mesa. The book is on the table. Yo estoy en Nueva Jersey. I am in New Jersey.

ESTAR Used to tell CONDITION. Eduardo está ocupado. Eduardo is busy. Ana y Luisa están enfermas. Ana and Luisa are sick.

SER Another verb in Spanish that means “to be.” is the verb SER. It is an irregular verb

SER Used to tell TIME and DATE. Son las dos y media. It is two thirty. Es el veinte de noviembre. It is the twentieth of November.

SER Used to tell NATIONALITY. For example: Yo soy americana. Él es puertorriqueño.

SER Used to tell WHERE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS FROM. Tú eres de Nicaragua. Ellas son de Costa Rica.

SER Used to describe CHARACTERISTICS. What something or someone is like. Rebeca es alta. Enrique y yo somos guapos.

SER Use SER when describing someone’s profession. Yo soy profesora. Tú eres estudiante.

SER Yo soy Tú eres Ud. Él es Ella Nosotros somos Vosotros sois Uds. Ellos son Ellas

SER Used to tell TIME and DATE. Used to tell NATIONALITY Used to tell ORIGIN Used to tell CHARACTERISTICS Used to tell PROFESSIONS/OCCUPATIONS