Ser' and 'Estar' in the Present Tense – GCSE Spanish Edexcel Revision

Ser’ and ‘Estar’ in the Present Tense

‘Ser’ and ‘Estar’ are both Spanish verbs that translate as ‘to be’ in English but they each have distinct uses.
‘Ser’ is typically used for permanent or long-lasting characteristics, whereas ‘Estar’ is used for temporary states or conditions.

Understanding ‘Ser’:

It represents identity: soy Rosa. (I am Rosa)
It indicates occupation: es doctor. (He is a doctor)
It discusses nationality: somos españoles. (We are Spanish)
It tells the time and date: hoy es lunes, son las dos. (Today is Monday, it’s two o’clock)
It describes personality traits: eres simpático. (You are nice)
It describes physical characteristics: el gato es negro. (The cat is black)

Understanding ‘Estar’:

It relates to current feelings or states: estoy feliz. (I am happy)
It locates people and things: la tienda está allí. (The shop is over there)
It is used to talk about ongoing actions (present progressive tense): estoy estudiando. (I am studying)
It addresses temporary physical states or looks: estás muy pálido. (You are very pale)

Conjugating ‘Ser’ in Present Tense:

Conjugating ‘Estar’ in Present Tense:

yo estoy (I am)
tú estás (you are, singular informal)
él/ella/usted está (he/she is, you are formal)
nosotros/nosotras estamos (we are)
vosotros/vosotras estáis (you are, plural informal)
ellos/ellas/ustedes están (they are, you are formal)
An easy-to-remember rhyme to help distinguish between ‘ser’ and ‘estar’: “How you feel and where you are, always use the verb ‘estar.’”
Remember that when using ‘estar’ with adjectives, it often changes their meaning. For instance, ‘ser aburrido’ (to be boring) versus ‘estar aburrido’ (to be bored).
Practice sentences using both ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ to effectively differentiate between them and apply them correctly. Trying to translate English phrases where ‘to be’ is used can often be a helpful exercise.