1. The verb “ser” “To be”

2. ser = “to be” In Spanish, the verb ser means “to be.” We usually have to conjugate it, or change its form, in order for it to make sense in a sentence. We do this in English all the time without even realizing it...

3. [Marlin and Dory are racing through the jellyfish forest. Marlin starts talking to himself.]\ Marlin: So, we to be cheating death now, that to be what we to be doing, and we to be having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin What’s wrong with this quote?

4. The verb “to be” has to be conjugated!

5. MarlinMarlin: So, we to be cheating death now, that to be what we to be doing, and we to be having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

6. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that to be what we to be doing, and we to be having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

7. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we to be doing, and we to be having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

8. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we to be having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

9. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we are having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I to be built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

10. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we are having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I am built for speed! Marlin: The question to be Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

11. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we are having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I am built for speed! Marlin: The question is Dory, to be you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

12. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we are having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I am built for speed! Marlin: The question is Dory, are you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you to be about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

13. MarlinMarlin: So, we are cheating death now, that IS what we are doing, and we are having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful... Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win! Marlin: Oh I don't think so! Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I am built for speed! Marlin: The question is Dory, are you hungry? Dory: Hungry? Why? Marlin: 'Cause you are about to eat my bubbles! Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Dory Marlin Let’s conjugate the verb

14. In English, “to be” has 3 forms, which we just saw: am is are

15. Each form is used with an appropriate subject pronoun I am We are You are You all are He is They are She is

16. How does this work in Spanish? We use subject pronouns in Spanish too, in just the same way.

17. Subject pronouns in Spanish: I = yo We = nosotros/nosotras You (informal) = tú You all (informal) = vosotros/vosotras You (formal) = Ud. You all (formal) = Uds. He = él They (males/mixed) = ellos She = ella They (females) = ellas

18. In Spanish, ser (“to be”) has 6 forms, each used with its appropriate subject pronoun: yo soy nosotros/nosotras somos tú eres vosotros/vosotras sois Ud. es Uds. son él es ellos son ella es ellas son

19. What does all of this mean? yo soy (I am) nosotros/nosotras somos (we are) tú eres (you are ) vosotros/vosotras sois (y’all are) Ud. es (you are [formal]) Uds. son (you all are ) él es (he is) ellos son (they are ) ella es (she is) ellas son (they are )

20. Let’s try conjugating ser: I am short. Yo _____ baja.

21. Let’s try conjugating ser: I am short. Yo soy baja

22. Let’s try conjugating ser: We are brunettes. Nosotros ______ morenos.

23. Let’s try conjugating ser: We are brunettes. Nosotros somos morenos.

24. Let’s try conjugating ser: You are ambitious. Tú ______ ambicioso.

25. Let’s try conjugating ser: You are ambitious. Tú eres ambicioso.

26. Let’s try conjugating ser: They are lazy. Ellos _____ perezosos.

27. Let’s try conjugating ser: They are lazy. Ellos son perezosos.

28. Let’s try conjugating ser: Dory ( she ) is blue. Dory ( ella ) _____ azul.

29. Let’s try conjugating ser: Dory ( she ) is blue. Dory ( ella ) es azul.

30. Let’s try conjugating ser: Marlin ( he ) is shy. Marlin ( él ) ____ tímido.

31. Let’s try conjugating ser: Marlin ( he ) is shy. Marlin ( él ) es tímido.

32. Let’s try conjugating ser: Marlin and Dory ( they ) are friends. Marlin y Dory ( ellos ) _____ amigos.

33. Let’s try conjugating ser: Marlin and Dory ( they ) are friends. Marlin y Dory ( ellos ) son amigos.

34. Now it’s your turn to practice!