Nivel 1 Clase 14

Verbo ESTAR - To be
The English translation of the verb ESTAR is to be. We have already seen that also the verb SER can be translated as to be. Where is the difference?

Condition and essential characteristics:

When describing something/someone and talking about condition we use the verb Estar, while when talking about essential characteristics we use the verb Ser. It is useful to think that estar is related with estado (state), that is, with a condition or situation.

For example:

Ana es guapa (Ana is beautiful), means she is always beautiful.

but

Ana est guapa (Ana is beautiful) means that today Ana looks especially beautiful. We have just seen that estar is related with the condition. It has been said that is also related with the situation, that means, when talking about where is located something/someone we also use estar.

For example:

Ana, dnde ests? (Ara, where are you?).

Madrid est en Espaa (Madrid is in Spain).

Following this explanation we can conclude that when using the adverb donde we use the verb estar.

When to use the verbs ESTAR and SER?

Estar:

1- When talking about location: Dnde est tu casa? (where is your home). 2- When talking about a specific temporal point (adding particles a and en): Estamos a viernes (its Friday).

3- When talking about a condition, as we have seen: Estoy triste (I am sad).

Ser:

1- When identifying: Quin eres? Soy Laura (who are you? I am Laura).

2- When talking about the material something is made by. La silla es de madera (the chair is made of wood).

3- When talking about the origin or nationality: Ella es espaola.

4- When talking about the profession: Soy doctora (I am doctor).

5- When talking about religion: Soy budista ( I am Buddhist).

6- When talking about social class: l es de clase media (he is middle class).

7- When talking about events: El partido de ftbol es hoy en el gimnasio (the football match its today in the gym)

Conjugacin ESTAR:

Yo T

estoy ests

Nosotros Vosotros Ellos/ellas/ustedes

estamos estis estn

l/ella/usted est

Conjugacin SER:

Yo T

soy eres

Nosotros Vosotros Ellos/ellas/ustedes

somos sois son

l/ella/usted es

ESTAR o HABER:
Yo T he has Nosotros Vosotros Ellos hemos habis han

l/ella/usted ha

We have just seen that the verb estar can indicate the presence of a person or thing. However, there is another verb that can be used to indicate presence, that is, the verb haber (to have, typically in the third person of singular). A difference between estar and haber is that haber typically in the form of hay or haba (past) is used to indicate the mere existence of the person or thing, while estar is used to indicate the location or the state of the person or thing.

For example:

Dnde hay un mdico? (where is a doctor?). In that case we want to know if there is someone who is doctor. but

Dnde est el mdico? (where is the doctor) . In that case we know someone who is doctor exists but we dont know where he is. Also it is useful to know that 1- Hay its used with the artculo indeterminado (un,una, unos, unas) while est its used with the artculo determinado (el, la, los las). 2-Hay is used to inform about existence while est is used to talk about location: Hay un libro en la mesa (there is a book on the table). El libro est en la mesa (the book is son the table). 3- Hay It is used with substantive plural while est with proper name: Aqu hay muchos coches (here there are many cars). Lola est aqu (Lola is here). 4- Hay is used with numbers while est with possessives. Hay dos gatos (there are two cats). Est mi libro en la mesa? (is my book on the table?)

It seems to be difficult but dont worry, we will practice it again and again!