Guide for SER vs ESTAR built from: http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/41

1. SER vs. ESTAR
JIA MS Spanish Unit 3B
Information adapted from SpanishDict.com

2. Los usos de los verbos ser y estar
 SER is used to classify and identify permanent or
lasting attributes.
 If this general rule is too vague for you, think of the
acronym D.O.T. is used for Descriptions of a person or
thing, Origins of a person or thing, and Time.
 ESTAR is used to indicate temporary states and
locations.
 If the general rule doesn’t suffice, think of the
acronym LoCo. Estar is used
for Locations and Conditions.

3. SER y DESCRIPCIONES
 Descriptions used with SER can be names, physical
descriptions, personality or characteristic descriptions,
occupations, religions, and even relationships to other people
 Names:
 Yo soy Juan. (I am Juan)
 Ella es Gabriela. (She is Gabriela)
 Characteristics:
 Allen es alto. (Allen is tall)
 Yo soy listo. (I am clever)
 Relationships:
 Nosotros somos amigos. (We are friends)
 Ella es mi hermana. (She is my sister)
 Occupations:
 Mi padre es professor (My father is a professor)
 Yo soy estudiante. (I am a student)

4. SER y Origenes
 The place a person is from or the material something
is made from is an origin. The origin of someone or
something is not going to change when we use SER.
 Nationality
 Yo soy de Michigan. (I am from Michigan)
 Mi maestro es de España. (My teacher is from Spain)
 Material
 Las sillas son de madera (The chairs are made of wood)

5. SER y TIEMPO
 Time includes days, dates, and hours. For hours,
use es for one o´clock and son for all other hours.
 Es la una y media de la tarde. (It is 1:30 in the afternoon)
 Son las diez de la noche. (It is 10 PM)
 Hoy es miércoles. (Today is Wednesday)
 Hoy es tres de enero. (Today is the third of January)

6. ESTAR y UBICACIÓN (location)
 These can be a physical position or posture or simply where
something is.
 Estoy en el clase. (I am in class)
 Mi papa está sentado. (Mi dad is seated)
 Estámos en el cine. (We are at the theater)
 El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table)
 La escuela está al lado del banco (The school is next to the bank)
 EXCEPTION: SER is used to describe the location of events:
 La fiesta es en la casa de mi amiga Laura.

7. ESTAR y CONDICIONES
 These can be physical, mental, or emotional states.
Things that are likely to vary over several hours, days, or
even years can be conditions.
 Yo estoy cansado hoy. (I am tired today)
 Mi amigo está enfermo hoy. (My friend is sick today)
 Ella está contenta. (She is happy)
 Yo estoy listo para el examen. (I am ready for the exam).