This is a thorough guide on Ser vs Estar, the common Spanish verbs, including how to use each and how to conjugate them in every tense in the Spanish language.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. • To explain the purpose:
o 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):
o ¿Dónde va a ser la fiesta? – Where will the party be?
• To affirm a place of origin, ethnic or nationality:
o Juan es de Barcelona. – John is from Barcelona.
o 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. • 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

9. 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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