1. Ser, Estar & Haber
To be, to be, to “be”

2. Introduction There are three verbs that can signify “to be” in Spanish
SER
ESTAR
HAY
SER and ESTAR are contrasted and have a variety of uses and meanings.
HAY is an irregular form of HABER and is used in special conditions.

3. Uses of SER with “de” to describe origin: Soy de Chicago.
I am from Chicago
Ella es de los Estados Unidos.
She is from the United States.

4. Uses of SER with “de” to describe possession La mochila es de Elena.
The backpack is Elena’s.
El libro es de nosotros.
That is our book.

5. Uses of SER with “de” to describe what something is made of.
La chaqueta es de algodón.
The jacket is cotton.
Las enchiladas son de pollo.
The enchiladas are chicken.

6. Uses of SER
before adjectives to indicate condition that doesn’t result from change: nationality, age, physical attributes, personality, religion and color.
Mis amigos son españolas. My friends are Spanish.
El presidente es joven. The president is young.
Carlos es alto y rubio. Carlos is tall and blond.
Nora es inteligente. Nora is intelligent.
Mis primos son graciosos. My cousins are funny.
Las señoras son católicas. The women are catholic.
El coche es azul. The car is blue.

7. Uses of SER with professions Soy estudiante.
I am a student.
Ellos son hombres de negocios.
They are businessmen.

8. Uses of SER to express times, dates, days of the week:
Son las seis de la tarde.
It’s six o’clock in the evening.
Hoy es lunes.
Today is Monday.

9. Uses of SER to indicate where an event regularly takes place
La conferencia es en el auditorio.
The conference takes place in the auditorium. (habit, not necessarily currently)
La clase de español es en el aula dos.
The Spanish class is in room two. (habit, not necessarily currently)

10. Uses of ESTAR Estamos en la clase. El libro está al lado.
with a preposition “a, en etc.” to express location of objects and persons:
Estamos en la clase.
El libro está al lado.

11. Uses of ESTAR With the progressive construction (-ndo).
El profesor está hablando con la estudiante.
The professor is speaking with the student.

12. Uses of ESTAR
to express physical and emotional state of being or present/ resultant condition (past participle):
El proyector está roto.
The projector is broken
Yo estoy cansada.
I am tired.

13. Uses of ESTAR
to express change for the norm: whether perceived or real.
Estás flaca, debes comer.
You are thin, you should eat.
Estás loco, debes considerar los hechos.
You are crazy, you should consider the facts.

14. Uses of HABER As the auxiliary verb in “perfect tenses”: He estudiado.
I have studied.
Había viajado.
He had travelled.

15. Uses of HABER
In the special 3rd person form to signal the existence of one of more nouns:
Hay libros y papeles en la clase.
There are papers and book in the classroom.

16. Uses of HABER Hay + que, to indicate necessity. Hay que estudiar.
We/you/one must study.
Hay que conservar.
We/you/one must conserve.

17. Para que sepáis… In general terms:
SER is more or less permanent.
ESTAR is more or less transitive. (changing)
HABER and HAY have special circumstances that are not compared to SER or ESTAR.