1. Ser is used to express: D O C T R P I E
Descriptions/Essential qualities
Yo soy moreno, alto y trabajador
Origin/Nationality
Nosotros somos de River Edge/Oradell
Characteristics/The material something is made of
La mesa es de madera
Time (the hour, day, and date)
Son las once/Hoy es martes/ Es el 17 de enero
Occupation
Ellos son doctores
Relationship of one person to another/
Religious or political affiliation
Juan es mi hermano/Mi familia es cristiana P I E
Possession
Estos son mis libros
Impersonal expressions
Es bueno comer saludable
Where an event is taking place
La fiesta es en casa

2. Estar is used to express: P L A C E
Position
La biblioteca está al frente de la oficina
Location
Las tiendas están en el centro comercial
Estoy estudiando para la prueba
Action/Progressive Tenses
Condition or state
Las bananas están dulces
Expressions that are idiomatic
Estar de acuerdo/to be in agreement, estar de pie/to
be standing, estar en camino/to be on the way,
estar en las nubes/to daydream

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