Ser vs Estar — When To Use Which Verb

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Knowing the Spanish verbs for TO BE: SER vs ESTAR

There are two irregular verbs, Ser and Estar, that mean ‘to be’ in the Spanish language. This is a bit confusing and thus, a tricky part of acquiring this beautiful idiom.

In this article, you will learn to understand the basic rules and memorize the verb conjugation for each tense.

The difference between SER and ESTAR

Verbs are used to describe actions. The ser vs estar debate spins heads because both verbs mean to be. But they’re used in different situations and sound totally different.

The verb Ser could be in most instances related with the verb Existir (to exist); that is, to refer to the existence and characteristics of a thing, person, animal or place.

In contrast, the verb Estar is used to express a certain state of the subject. Estar is to be in a place, situation, condition or state of mind.

SER VS ESTAR: Simple Indicative Verb Tenses Comparative Table

In the table below, you will be able to appreciate how the verbs change according to the pronoun and the tense.

SIMPLE INDICATIVE ‘SER’
PRONOUN PRESENT IMPERFECT PRETERITE FUTURE CONDITIONAL
Yo Soy Era Fui Seré Sería
Tú Eres Eras Fuiste Serás Serías
Usted Es Era Fue Será Sería
Él Es Era Fue Será Sería
Ella Es Era Fue Será Sería
Nosotros Somos Éramos Fuimos Seremos Seríamos
Ustedes Son Eran Fueron Serán Serían
Vosotros Sois Erais Fuisteis Seréis Seríais
SIMPLE INDICATIVE ‘ESTAR’
PRONOUN PRESENT IMPERFECT PRETERITE FUTURE CONDITIONAL
Yo Estoy Estaba Estuve Estaré Estaría
Tú Estás Estabas Estuviste Estarás Estarías
Usted Está Estaba Estuvo Estará Estaría
Él Está Estaba Estuvo Estará Estaría
Ella Está Estaba Estuvo Estará Estaría
Nosotros Estamos Estábamos Estuvimos Estaremos Estaríamos
Ustedes Están Estaban Estuvieron Estarán Estarían
Vosotros Estáis Estabais Estuvisteis Estaréis Estaríais

How to Use the Verb SER

Observe how the verb Ser is used in the following scenarios:

  • To describe the qualities of the noun such as shape, height, color, etc:
  • Las flores son rosas. – The flowers are pink.
  • To recall how something was in the past:
  • La comida fue terrible. – The food was terrible.
  • To define ownership, establish relationships, or talk about possessions:
  • El auto es mío. – The car is mine.
  • Juan y María son hermanos. – John and Mary are siblings.
  • To hypothesize about something either in the past or the future:
  • Habría sido mejor quedarse en casa – It would have been better to stay at home.
  • Sería mejor si nos quedáramos en casa – It would be better if we stayed at home.
  • To indicate the time:
  • Son las cuatro de la tarde. – It is four o’clock.
  • To explain the purpose:
    • Los automóviles son para transportarse. – Cars are (used) for transportation.
  • To establish a place where something takes place (either in the past, present or future):
    • ¿Dónde va a ser la fiesta? – Where will the party be?
  • To affirm a place of origin, ethnic or nationality:
    • Juan es de Barcelona. – John is from Barcelona.
    • El vino es francés. – The wine is French.

How to Conjugate the Verb SER

To learn how to conjugate the verb Ser, memorize the following things:

  • The Spanish pronouns.
  • The participle Sido.
  • The gerund Siendo.
  • The first-person of the simple tenses.
  • The correspondence to form the perfect tenses.

The following table provides an example with the pronoun Yo (I).

INDICATIVE
SIMPLE INDICATIVE
PRESENT IMPERFECT PRETERITE FUTURE CONDITIONAL SIMPLE
Soy Era Fui Seré Sería
PERFECT INDICATIVE
PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST ANTERIOR FUTURE PERFECT CONDITIONAL PERFECT
He sido Había sido Hube sido Habré sido Habría sido
SUBJUNCTIVE
SIMPLE SUBJUNCTIVE
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE FUTURE SUBJUNCTIVE
Sea Fuera/Fuese Fuere
PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE FUTURE PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
Haya sido Hubiera sido/Hubiese sido Hubiere sido
IMPERATIVE
Sé/sed
NONFINITE VERB FORMS
INFINITIVE PARTICIPLE GERUNDE
SIMPLE PERFECT Sido SIMPLE PERFECT
Ser Haber sido Siendo Habiendo siendo

Practice Conjugating SER

How to Use the Verb ESTAR

Observe how the verb Estar is used in the following scenarios:

  • To describe that you are in the company of a person:
  • Estoy con mi madre. – I am with my mother.
  • To ask if someone is alright:
  • ¿Estás bien? – Are you OK?
  • ¿Él está herido? – He’s hurt?
  • To express that someone is (was or will be) in the process of an act:
  • Antonio está de viaje. – Anthony is traveling.
  • Antonio estaba de viaje. – Anthony was traveling.
  • Antonio estará de viaje. – Anthony will be traveling.
  • To talk about feelings or someone´s emotional state:
  • Mi padre estaría feliz de vernos juntos. – My father would be happy to see us together.
  • Mi esposa había estado enojada conmigo toda la semana. – My wife had been angry with me all week.
  • To approve or disapprove:
  • Este trabajo está mal hecho. – This work is badly done.
  • To emphasize the progressive aspect of an action (always followed by a gerund):
  • Andrés está durmiendo. – Andrés is sleeping.
  • Ustedes estaban limpiando. – You were cleaning.
  • Yo había estado trabajando. – I had been working.

How to Conjugate the Verb ESTAR

To learn how to conjugate the verb Estar, memorize the following things:

  • The Spanish pronouns.
  • The participle Estado.
  • The gerund Estando.
  • The first-person of the simple tenses.
  • The correspondence to form the perfect tenses.

The following table provides an example with the pronoun Yo (I).

INDICATIVE
SIMPLE INDICATIVE
PRESENT IMPERFECT PRETERITE FUTURE CONDITIONAL SIMPLE
Estoy Estaba Estuve Estaré Estaría
PERFECT INDICATIVE
PRESENT PERFECT PAST PERFECT PAST ANTERIOR FUTURE PERFECT CONDITIONAL PERFECT
He estado Había estado Hube estado Habré estado Habría estado
SUBJUNCTIVE
SIMPLE SUBJUNCTIVE
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE FUTURE SUBJUNCTIVE
Esté Estuviera/Estuviese Estuviere
PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
PRESENT PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE FUTURE PERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
Haya estado Hubiera/Hubiese estado Hubiere estado
IMPERATIVE
Está/Estad
NONFINITE VERB FORMS
INFINITIVE PARTICIPLE GERUNDE
SIMPLE PERFECT Estado SIMPLE PERFECT
Estar Haber estado Estando Habiendo estado

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Practice Conjugating ESTAR