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 situations in which either one of these verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences. The choice depends on the meaning to be conveyed. For cases when only one of the verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences, see the page Either 'ser' or 'estar'
Question #1 - Gloss.?
Question #2 - Gloss.?
Question #3 - Gloss.?
Question #4 - Gloss.?
Question #5 - Gloss.?
Question #6 - Gloss.?
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Question #8 - Gloss.?
Question #9 - Gloss.?
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
Proper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
The choice between ser or estar depends on the meaning to be conveyed.
Ser is to be used when the adjective is applied to an essential description of the subject.
Estar is to be used when the adjective refers to a state of the subject. For example:
'The snow is white' translates to 'La nieve es blanca' if referring to the nature of snow; to 'La nieve está blanca' if referring to its state of cleanliness.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
The choice between ser or estar depends on the meaning to be conveyed.
Ser is to be used when the adjective is applied to an essential description of the subject.
Estar is to be used when the adjective refers to a state of the subject. For example:
'The snow is white' translates to 'La nieve es blanca' if referring to the nature of snow; to 'La nieve está blanca' if referring to its state of cleanliness.
Proper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Ser and estar lead to different structures when combined with a 'past participle' (pp). Ser+pp gives us the true passive form; i.e. :
'...son lavados por...' corresponds to '...are washed by...'
On the other hand, estar+pp describes 'a resultant state from a previous action'; i.e. :
'los platos están lavados y secos' corresponds to 'the dishes are washed and dry'.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
The choice between ser or estar depends on the meaning to be conveyed.
Ser is to be used when the adjective is applied to an essential description of the subject.
Estar is to be used when the adjective refers to a state of the subject. For example:
'The snow is white' translates to 'La nieve es blanca' if referring to the nature of snow; to 'La nieve está blanca' if referring to its state of cleanliness.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Ser and estar lead to different structures when combined with a 'past participle' (pp). Ser+pp gives us the true passive form; i.e. :
'...son lavados por...' corresponds to '...are washed by...'
On the other hand, estar+pp describes 'a resultant state from a previous action'; i.e. :
'los platos están lavados y secos' corresponds to 'the dishes are washed and dry'.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
The choice between ser or estar depends on the meaning to be conveyed.
Ser is to be used when the adjective is applied to an essential description of the subject.
Estar is to be used when the adjective refers to a state of the subject. For example:
'The snow is white' translates to 'La nieve es blanca' if referring to the nature of snow; to 'La nieve está blanca' if referring to its state of cleanliness.
Improper usage of verb in a 'normal essential attributes' vs. 'deviation from norm' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Ser and estar lead to different structures when combined with a 'past participle' (pp). Ser+pp gives us the true passive form; i.e. :
'...son lavados por...' corresponds to '...are washed by...'
On the other hand, estar+pp describes 'a resultant state from a previous action'; i.e. :
'los platos están lavados y secos' corresponds to 'the dishes are washed and dry'.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Improper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Proper usage of verb in a 'true passive' vs. a 'resultant condition' situation.
Ser and estar lead to different structures when combined with a 'past participle' (pp). Ser+pp gives us the true passive form; i.e. :
'...son lavados por...' corresponds to '...are washed by...'
On the other hand, estar+pp describes 'a resultant state from a previous action'; i.e. :
'los platos están lavados y secos' corresponds to 'the dishes are washed and dry'.
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Proper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
Improper usage of verb with 'meaning changing' adjectives.
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 situations in which either one of these verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences. The choice depends on the meaning to be conveyed. For cases when only one of the verbs can be used to form grammatically correct sentences, see the page Either 'ser' or 'estar'
The items covered are:
In Spanish there is a class of adjectives that change their meaning depending on whether they are used with either ser or estar. They translate accordingly to different English adjectives. For example:
'ser alto' translates to 'to be tall'; 'estar alto' translates to 'to be high'.
The choice between ser or estar depends on the meaning to be conveyed.
Ser is to be used when the adjective is applied to an essential description of the subject.
Estar is to be used when the adjective refers to a state of the subject. For example:
'The snow is white' translates to 'La nieve es blanca' if referring to the nature of snow; to 'La nieve está blanca' if referring to its state of cleanliness.
Ser and estar lead to different structures when combined with a 'past participle' (pp). Ser+pp gives us the true passive form; i.e. :
'...son lavados por...' corresponds to '...are washed by...'
On the other hand, estar+pp describes 'a resultant state from a previous action'; i.e. :
'los platos están lavados y secos' corresponds to 'the dishes are washed and dry'.
Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.
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