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SER |
ESTAR |
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* to identify people and things.
Examples:
'Tú eres un buen estudiante'.
(= You are a good student.)
'Yo soy tu padre'. (= I am
your father.)
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* to tell location.
Examples:
'Yo estoy en la biblioteca'.
(= I am at the library.)
' El diccionario está en la mesa'. (= The dictionary is
on the table.)
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* SER + ADJECTIVES to express
inherent characteristics.
Example:
'Ricardo es muy
amable'. (= Ricardo is very kind.) |
* ESTAR + ADJECTIVES to express
conditions.
Example:
'Sé que estás ocupada'. (= I
know you are very busy.)
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* SER + 'DE' to tell the material
something is made.
Example:
'La chaqueta es de
cuero'. (= The jacket is made of leather).
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* to describe health.
Example:
'¿Cómo está
usted? Yo estoy
bien'. (= How are you? I am fine.)
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* SER + 'PARA' to tell for whom something
is intended.
Example:
'El dinero es para
mi hermano'. (= The money is for my brother.)
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* ESTAR + GERUND to form the present
progressive. [If you don't remember what the
present progressive is, click here.]
Example:
'El gato está durmiendo'. (=
The cat is sleeping.)
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* to tell time. [For more details about telling
time, click here.]
Examples:
'Son las tres veinte'. (=
It's three twenty.)
'Es la una'. (= It's one
o'clock.)
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* in some fixed expressions: 'ESTAR DE ACUERDO CON' (= to agree with),
'ESTAR CASADO CON' (= to be married
to), 'ESTAR A $...' (= to cost
$...).
Examples:
'Estoy de acuerdo con ella'.
(= I agree with her.)
'Fernando está casado con mi
hermana'. (= Fernando is married to my sister.)
'Los videodiscos están a $20'.
(= The DVDs are $20.)
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* SER + 'DE' to express possession.
Example:
'Las llaves son de
Luciano'. (= The keys belong to Luciano.)
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* for generalizations.
Example:
'Es importante desayunar bien'.
(= It's important to have a good breakfast.) |
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* to express nationality; SER
+ 'DE' to express origin.
Examples:
'Él es argentino'.
(= He is Argentinian.)
'Ella es de
Nicaragua'. (= She comes from Nicaragua.) |
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