Spanish has no exact single equivalent of the English verb to be. For its wide range of meanings and uses Spanish employs the verbs ser and estar as well as several other verbs and special constructions. The ser / estar drills in this page deal with cases in which the choice between these verbs does not depend on context: only one of the verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences. For cases when either one of the two verbs can be used, albeit expressing different meanings, see the page 'Ser' or 'estar' according to context
Question #1 - Gloss.?
Question #2 - Gloss.?
Question #3 - Gloss.?
Question #4 - Gloss.?
Question #5 - Gloss.?
Question #6 - Gloss.?
Question #7 - Gloss.?
Question #8 - Gloss.?
Question #9 - Gloss.?
Improper choice of verb for expressing location.
Proper choice of verb for expressing location.
Estar is used to express location of something tangible (a person, object, or place), i.e. to state where the subject is. This location may be figurative; for example: 'El está en el segundo año de sus estudios' ('He is in the second year of his studies').
Proper choice of verb for identifying or classifying a given subject.
Ser is used to link the predicate to the subject and express who or what it is; in particular, to express occupation or status.
Improper choice of verb for identifying or classifying a given subject.
Improper choice of verb for expressing location.
Proper choice of verb for expressing location.
Estar is used to express location of something tangible (a person, object, or place), i.e. to state where the subject is. This location may be figurative; for example: 'El está en el segundo año de sus estudios' ('He is in the second year of his studies').
Proper choice of verb for expressing time.
Ser is used to express time.
Improper choice of verb for expressing time.
Improper choice of verb for the 'present progressive' form.
Proper choice of verb for the 'present progressive' form.
Estar is used for the present progressive form. Notice that Spanish uses the progressive much less than English, only for a truly progressive action.
Proper choice of verb for characterizing a given subject.
Ser is used to characterize a given subject by citing its properties, qualities, and attributes. In particular, to express origin, material make-up or possesion, mostly with the use of the preposition de.
Improper choice of verb for characterizing a given subject.
Proper choice of verb for equating mathematical identities.
Ser is used to express mathematical identities. While English uses the third person singular, Spanish uses the third person plural: 'Two and two is four' vs 'Dos y dos son cuatro'
Improper choice of verb for equating mathematical identities.
Proper choice of verb for identifying or classifying a given subject.
Ser is used to link the predicate to the subject and express who or what it is; in particular, to express occupation or status.
Improper choice of verb for identifying or classifying a given subject.
Proper choice of verb for characterizing a given subject.
Ser is used to characterize a given subject by citing its properties, qualities, and attributes. In particular, to express origin, material make-up or possesion, mostly with the use of the preposition de.
Improper choice of verb for characterizing a given subject.
Spanish has no exact single equivalent of the English verb to be. For its wide range of meanings and uses Spanish employs the verbs ser and estar as well as several other verbs and special constructions. The ser / estar drills in this page deal with cases in which the choice between these verbs does not depend on context: only one of the verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences. For cases when either one of the two verbs can be used, albeit expressing different meanings, see the page 'Ser' or 'estar' according to context
The items covered are:
Ser is used to link the predicate to the subject and express who or what it is; in particular, to express occupation or status.
Ser is used to express mathematical identities. While English uses the third person singular, Spanish uses the third person plural: 'Two and two is four' vs 'Dos y dos son cuatro'
Ser is used to characterize a given subject by citing its properties, qualities, and attributes. In particular, to express origin, material make-up or possesion, mostly with the use of the preposition de.
Ser is used to express time.
Estar is used for the present progressive form. Notice that Spanish uses the progressive much less than English, only for a truly progressive action.
Estar is used to express location of something tangible (a person, object, or place), i.e. to state where the subject is. This location may be figurative; for example: 'El está en el segundo año de sus estudios' ('He is in the second year of his studies').
Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.
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