Ser o Estar.

Hello, guys! Today we’re going to talk about the uses of the verbs “ser” and “estar” in Spanish, which are super important and sometimes a bit tricky. We’ll do it in a simple and enjoyable way, so that everyone understands it well.

1.Use of “Ser” for physical descriptions When we talk about physical characteristics that are permanent or intrinsic to a person, we use the verb “ser”. For example:

• Juan es alto.

• María es morena. In contrast, we use “estar” for characteristics that are temporary or that can change. For example:

• Juan está pálido (perhaps because he’s not feeling well today).

• María está bronceada (after a vacation at the beach).

2. Use of “Ser” to talk about character and origin “Ser” is also used to describe a person’s character or origin, which are considered permanent aspects. For example:

• Carlos es muy generoso.

• Sofia es alemana.
  

3. Use of “Ser” to talk about time We also use “ser” to tell the time. For example:

• Ahora es la una de la tarde.

• Son las cinco y media.

4. Use of “Estar” for body position and emotional condition When we describe body position or how someone feels at a specific moment, we use “estar”. For example:

• Estoy estando sentado.

• Marta está feliz hoy.

5. Comparison of the use of “Ser” and “Estar” in special contexts Both “ser” and “estar” can be used in some contexts that seem similar, but the implications are different. For example:

Dates and seasons:

• Hoy es 21 de marzo.

• Estamos en primavera.

Professions:

• Carla es médica (it’s her professional career).

• Carla está de recepcionista (it’s a temporary job she is doing).

Location:

• La fiesta es en casa de Juan (when talking about events).

• Juan está en la casa (when we want to express the location of a person).