Unit 13 (Unidad 13) Ser and estar (Ser y estar) Level 1 1.1 Basic distinctions between ser and estar (Distinciones b ´ asicas entre ser y estar) 1.2 Ser and estar + adjective (Ser y estar + adjetivo) 1.3 Further differences between ser and estar (M ´ as diferencias entre ser y estar) 1.4 Ser and estar with prepositions, and hay (Ser y estar con preposiciones, y hay) 1.1 Basic distinctions between ser and estar As in Italian, there are in Spanish two verbs, ser and estar, corresponding to the English verb to be. They are not used interchangeably and can lend themselves to confusion. However, each one has distinct provinces. In form, they are quite irregular: ser estar Yo soy estoy Iam t´ueresest´as you are ´el he is ella es est´a she is Ud. you are       nosotros/as somos estamos we are vosotros/as sois est´ais you are ellos they are ellas son est´an they are Uds. you are       The fundamental distinction is that ser expresses an inherent or essential quality. Indeed, its Latin etymology (esse) suggests essence; estar,onthe other hand, suggests an exter- nal or accidental quality or condition. The following contrasted examples will help to illustrate this feature: a La caja es redonda Thebox is round b La sopa es rica The soup is nice La caja est´a vac´ıa Thebox is empty La sopa est´afr´ıa The soup is cold c Son inteligentes They are intelligent d Es terca She’s stubborn Est´an bien educados They are well educated Est´a indecisa She’s undecided In (a), an essential characteristic of the box is that it is round, hence the use of ser.That the box is empty entails the use of estar because, at some later time, it could be full. In (b), the soup is nice, and the suggestion is that it is a type of soup that is always nice, hence the use of ser,whereas the fact that the soup is cold is a temporary state of affairs, which leads to the use of estar. After all, it could be hot. In (c), the people are innately intelligent, 97 ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH always have been and always will be, unless, unpredictably, they become unbalanced. Ser is the appropriate verb here. The well-educated people could have been poorly educated, butmay have been born awash with money so are well educated. The contingent nature of their education is characterized by estar. Finally, in (d), one of the girl’s permanent features is that she is stubborn, as implied by ser. Notwithstanding her stubbornness, she could be undecided at a particular moment, which explains the use of estar. 1.2 Ser and estar + adjective It can happen, unfortunately, that the same adjective may be used with both verbs, according to the idea in the mind of the speaker or the writer. Here, the distinction is usually clearly marked but not always. It is comforting to note that many Span- ish speakers do sometimes hesitate over ser or estar,which explains why a good all-Spanish dictionary will offer guidance on frequent occasions. The following exam- ples illustrate difference of meaning of an adjective, according to the use of ser or estar: a Es p´alida She’s pale (Her complexion is naturally pale) Est´ap´alida She’s pale (because of sickness or fear) b Estas manzanas son agrias These apples are sharp (That’s their characteristic) Estas manzanas est´an agrias These apples are sharp (They aren’t usually sharp) c La mujer es amable Thewoman is pleasant (She always is) La mujer est´a amable Thewoman is pleasant (i.e. today) d El hombre es loco The man is mad (needs medical attention) El hombre est´a loco The man is mad (furious or has some crazy idea) e Tu hermano es bueno Your brother is good (agreeable person) Tu hermano est´abueno Your brother is in good health f Mi hijo es malo My son is bad (i.e. naughty and always is) Mi hijo est´a malo My son is unwell For all the above uses of these adjectives with ser and estar,itisquite clear that ser suggests permanency or essence, while estar relates to a passing state. 1.3 Further differences between ser and estar There are some examples of contrast between ser and estar which are difficult to appreciate. However, if you look behind the implications of the use of each verb in the following pairs of examples, you will understand the differences: ser estar Somos todos libres en este pa´ıs ¿Est´as libre para salir hoy? We are all free in this country Are you free to go out today? Todos mis estudiantes son listos ¿Est´an (M)/est´ais listos? All my students are intelligent Are you ready? Esta muchacha es muy viva Esta costumbre est´a todav´ıa viva This girl is very lively This custom is still alive 98 13 Ser and estar No es seguro que puedan hacerlo Estoy segura de que vendr´an hoy It’s not certain they can do it I’m sure they’ll come today Desde que le toc´olaloter´ıa, es feliz Estoy feliz con mi nuevo trabajo Since winning the lottery he’s been happy I’m happy with my new job Note. Although feliz may be used with both ser and estar,depending on the meaning, it would be unusual for contento to be used with ser.Itisalmost always used with estar: Est´a muy contenta con el nuevo empleado / con su nuevo coche She’s very happy with the new worker / with her new car In isolation: ser estar Implies existence or identity Implies location or state of health todo lo que es all that is ¿Est ´ a Pedro? Is Peter there? ¿Qui ´ en es? Who’s that/there? ¿C ´ omo est ´ as? How are you? 1.4 Ser and estar with prepositions, and hay i Estar is used in the following prepositional phrases where it can be seen that the circumstances are temporary: Est´a con (la) gripe Estoy sin dinero El cuarto est´aaoscuras She’s got the flu I’m without money The room is in darkness Hoy est´ademal/buen humor Mi abuela est´adeluto Today he’s in a bad/good mood My grandmother is in mourning ii Idioms with prepositions Ser When denoting origin, or referring to substance, or belonging: ser de Somos de Chihuahua Esta mesa es de madera We’refrom Chihuahua This table is of wood La perfecci´on no es de este mundo Perfection is not of this world To become of: ¿Qu´ehasido de ella? ¿Qu´e ser´adem´ı? What’s happened to her? What’ll happen to me? Estar estar para / a punto de to be about to / on the point of estar para to be in the mood for Yo estaba para / a punto de salir I was about to go out No estoy para bromas I’m not in the mood for joking 99 ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH estar por to be inclined to estar por to be in favor of Estoy por llamarlo I’m inclined to phone him Estoy por la paz I’m in favor of peace estar por (impersonal) (remains to be) estar en que to believe Su mejor novela est´a por escribir Estoy en que no se da cuenta Her best novel remains to be written I believe he doesn’t realize iii When used as nouns, ser and estar, the distinction becomes even clearer: el ser humano = human being el bienestar del hombre = man’s wellbeing iv Note the invariable expression hay = there is/are. (See also unit 15, level 1.2, for more information on hay, and its various tenses.) You might expect ser and estar here but this is not the case. Examples Hay un ´arbol cerca del r´ıo There is a tree near the river Hay muchos autos en la calle There are many cars in the street Hay un estudiante en el aula There is a student in the lecture hall Hay centenares de espectadores There are hundreds of spectators Hay s´olo un invitado There is only one guest Hay unos veinte muchachos There are about twenty boys Exercises Level 1 i Fill in the spaces with ser or estar. Bear in mind that you may often leave out the personal pronouns when they are subjects of the sentence a(Yo)() alto l Uds. ( )muy listas (M) b (Ella) ( ) morena m La casa ( ) cuadrada c¿( ) segura? n Estas papas (M)/patatas ( ) demasiado calientesdElhijo ( ) contento e( ) siempre feliz o La muchacha ( ) amable hoy f (Nosotros) ( ) libres hoy p Estos jitomates (M)( ) jugosos g¿D´onde ( ) Tijuana? q El bosque ( ) hermoso h (Ella) ( ) enferma r El beb´e( ) desnudo iElni˜no ( )chico (M)sEstas calles ( ) estrechas j ¿Qui´en ( ) ese autor? t Este carro (M)( ) largo k Uds. ( ) bien educados (M) ii Write sentences, or a small dialogue, with ser and estar, using the following words which are adjectives, nouns or expressions: P´alido, enfermo, de m´ı, gripe, m´edico, acatarrado/constipado, seguro, claro, simp´atico, listo, dispuesto, chistoso, malo, descontento, vivo, feliz, normal, cuarto oscuro, por recomendar fruta, entretenido, de buen humor, a punto de iii Paired activity Objective – Distinguish between ser and estar Method – Each person asks her/his partner a series of ten questions based on ser and estar. 100 13 Ser and estar Examples PREGUNTA: ¿Eres alto/a o peque˜no/a? RESPUESTA: Soy alto/a PREGUNTA: ¿D´onde est´as? RESPUESTA: Estoy en el sal´on (M)/lasala de clase PREGUNTA: ¿D´onde est´an tus cuates (M) / amigos? RESPUESTA: Est´an en el pasillo Don’t forget the agreement with ser and estar if it is accompanied by an adjective. Afterwards, the teacher can call the class together to discuss the findings Level 2 2.1 Various tenses of ser and estar (Varios tiempos de ser y estar) 2.2 Ser and estar with nouns, pronouns, infinitives and clauses (Ser y estar con nombres, pronombres, infinitivos y oraciones) 2.3 Ser and estar with the gerund (Ser y estar con el gerundio) 2.4 Ser and estar in the passive voice with a past participle (Ser y estar en voz pasiva con participio de rasado) 2.5 Ser and estar + adjective (Ser y estar + adjetivo) 2.1 Various tenses of ser and estar Some of the tenses of ser and estar reappear in the treatment of tenses in different units, forexample in the unit on the preterit (unit 8). However, it seems useful to list them all together here. The present tense appears in level 1 of this unit. Here are the others, and this includes the subjunctive forms as well: Ser Past participle: sido > he/hab´ıa/habr´e/habr´ıa sido .has/hab´ıas/habr´as/habr´ıas sido . Preterit: fui fuiste fue fuimos fuisteis fueron Imperfect: era erasera´eramos erais eran Future: ser´e ser´as ser´a seremos ser´eis ser´an Imperative: s´e sea (Ud.) seamos sed sean (Uds.) Present subjunctive: sea seas sea seamos se´ais sean Imperfect subjunctive: fuera fueras fuera fu´eramos fuerais fueran + fuese fueses fuese fu´esemos fueseis fuesen Estar Past participle: estado > he/hab´ıa/habr´e/habr´ıa estado .has/hab´ıas/habr´as/habr´ıas estado . Preterit: estuve estuviste estuvo estuvimos estuvisteis estuvieron Imperfect: estaba estabas estaba est´abamos estabais estaban Future: estar´e estar´as estar´a estaremos estar´eis estar´an Imperative: est´a est´e (Ud.) estemos estad est´en (Uds.) Present subjunctive: est´e est´es est´e estemos est´eis est´en Imperfect subjunctive: estuviera estuvieras estuviera estuvi´eramos estuvierais estuvieran + estuviese estuvieses estuviese estuvi´esemos estuvieseis estuviesen 101 ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH Now we shall illustrate refinements of the distinctions and contrasts presented in level 1. 2.2 Ser and estar with nouns, pronouns, infinitives and clauses ser estar Always used: Idiomatic usages: Soy doctor (M) /m ´ edico Est ´ as hecho un hombre I’m a physician/doctor You’ve turned into a man (big fellow) ¿Qui ´ en es el jefe? Estoy hecha una sopa Who’s the boss? I’m soaked to the skin No es nada Est ´ an hechos polvo It’s nothing They’re exhausted Verescreer Estoy hecha a ˜ nicos Seeing is believing I’m exhausted Durante la guerra mi padre fue capit ´ an During the war my father was a captain (and not the imperfect either = era) With adverbs of place ser estar With subjects representing an event: La charla es en la otra aula The talk is in the other lecture theater (Estar is not possible here) Designating place: (very common use) El Museo de Arqueolog ´ ıa est ´ aenla Ciudad de M ´ exico The .isinMexico City Reorganization of a sentence for stress: Donde te vi fue en la Calle Mayor It was in the Main/High Street that I saw you ¿D ´ onde est ´ as? Where are you? El libro est ´ aenelestante The book is on the shelf Fue en Denver donde (not que!) nos conocimos It was in Denver that we met (i.e. for the first time) La misma idea est ´ aensunovela The same idea is in her novel (Although the idea is used metaphorically here, it is still estar) Note the difference between ser and estar when the adverbslejos/cerca and adjectives cercano/lejano are used: Mi pa´ıs es lejano/distante My country is far away Mi ciudad est´a lejos My town is far away Mi departamento (M) es cercano a la plaza My apartment is near the square El Z´ocalo est´a cerca del Ayuntamiento The main square (in Mexico City) is near the City/Town Hall 102 13 Ser and estar Note that estar is always used with bien and mal: No est´a mal It’s not bad Est´a bien It’s OK (in both cases, when speaking of the appreciation of something) 2.3 Ser and estar with the gerund ser estar Note: fui llegando, fue llegando (I was / you were arriving, etc.) are forms of ir llegando Always used in the formation of progressive tenses: Estaba leyendo el peri ´ odico cuando . . . I was reading the newspaper when . . . Aquella tarde estuve leyendo un libro That afternoon I was reading a book 2.4 Ser and estar in the passive voice with a past participle Ser,inthe first example, suggests an action while estar suggests a state as a result of an action: ser estar El carro fue arreglado por el mec ´ anico El carro estaba arreglado The car was repaired by the mechanic The car was repaired (in state of repair) Many past participles used as adjectives: La pel ´ ıcula era muy aburrida The movie was very boring El joven es muy atrevido The youth is very daring Also in this category: callado – quiet, reserved cansado – tiring, tiresome confiado – trusting desconfiado – distrustful descre ´ ıdo – disbelieving disimulado – cunning divertido/entretenido – entertaining osado – daring pesado – boring, dull sufrido – long-suffering Este pan est ´ a vendido This bread is sold (has been sold) El vaso est ´ a roto The glass is broken La ventana estaba abierta/cerrada The window was open/closed When associated with a reflexive or transitive verb Est ´ a levantada She’s up Estamos aburridos We’re bored Est ´ a muerta She’s dead Est ´ a callado He’s quiet (now, but he could be noisy) Note that many past participles with estar are the equivalent of English present participles: 103 ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH acostado lying down dormido sleeping acurrucado huddling (together) echado lying down agachado bending over (of body) inclinado leaning agachapado crouching repantigado lolling agarrado (a) clinging (to) sentado sitting arrimado (a) leaning (on) tendido lying down arrodillado kneeling tumbado lying down colgado hanging Ejemplos Estaba acostada/dormida cuando entr´e She was lying down / sleeping when I walked in Pasa todo su tiempo acostado/dormido/repantigado/sentado/tumbado He spends all his time lying down / sleeping / lolling about / sitting / lying down Further examples illustrating the difference between an action (ser) and a state which is the result of an action (estar). Contrast the following: Esta novela fue escrita por Unamuno Aqu´ı est´a escrito que . This novel was written by Unamuno It is written here that . Los chicos fueron divididos en cuatro grupos El libro estaba dividido en diez cap´ıtulos Thechildren were divided into four groups The book was divided into ten chapters Esa ni˜na fue muy distra´ıda Estaba distra´ıdo, no pod´ıa aplicarme That girl was absent-minded I was distracted, I couldn’t concentrate ¿Es Ud. casado o soltero? No estoy casado todav´ıa Are you married or single? (implies legal or social status) I’m not married yet (but may be one day) 2.5 Ser and estar + adjective ser estar With adjectives classifying the subject into a category as in nationality/religion When referring to sickness, even when it is permanent Mi esposa es venezolana My wife is Venezuelan Aquel se ˜ nor es argentino That gentleman is Argentinian El le ´ on es carn ´ ıvoro The lion is a carnivore Est ´ a enferma desde ni ˜ na She’s been sick since childhood Estos ´ arboles est ´ an enfermos These trees are damaged But when enfermo is a noun, ser is used Los drogadictos son enfermos Drug addicts are sick people When the adjective is an inherent property of the subject El carb ´ on es negro Coal is black (i.e. all) El hielo es fr ´ ıo Ice is cold (i.e. all) When suddenness or irony are implied ¡Qu ´ e alta est ´ as! How tall you are! (Are you wearing very high heels?) Hoy la nieve est ´ a blanqu ´ ısima The snow is very white today (more than usual) (cont.) 104 13 Ser and estar ser estar When the adjective is a possible physical or moral property of the subject, even though this may not be “inherent” or “permanent,” and is liable to change Juanito es alto Johnny is tall El vecino es rico The neighbor is rich La mujer es joven The woman is young El cuento es triste The tale is sad An appreciation of clothes, well-fitting or otherwise El abrigo te est ´ a corto Your coat is short on you Estos pantalones no me est ´ an bien These pants don’t fit me Where the adjective expresses a measurement, quantity or comparison Los jitomates (M) son caros Tomatoes are expensive but: Los jitomates est ´ an caros; i.e. at the moment La calle es estrecha The street is narrow Juana es distinta de su hermana Juana is different from her sister When referring to a profession or job Estuvo de maestra en el pueblo She was an elementary/primary school teacher . . . Est ´ adep ´ arroco He’s a parish priest Note the use of de in the above two examples When referring to temperature Hoy estamos a cero grados Today it’s zero degrees Where the subject is a proposition or its equivalent Este problema es dif ´ ıcil This problem is difficult Mandar la carta es f ´ acil Sending the letter is easy When referring to the price of things El jam ´ on est ´ aacincuenta pesos The price of ham is fifty pesos When referring to time Hoy estamos a quince Today is the fifteenth Exercises Level 2 i Rellena los blancos / Llena (M) los espacios con ser o estar. Hay varias posibilidades a¿()f´acil la novela? i ( ) nadando toda la ma˜nana bS´ı, y ahora ( ) hecho polvo j ( )muy atrevido nadando all´ı c¿( ) lloviendo? k No pasa nada. El r´ıo ( ) tranquilo hoy dS´ı, y ahora ( ) hecho una sopa lYhab´ıa otros chicos que ( ) nadando en el r´ıo eElbosque ( )muy lejos m ¿Pero el agua ( )fr´ıa? fElbosque ( ) cercano al castillo n No, ( ) templada gY( ) cerca del r´ıo, tambi´en o ¿Tus amigos ( )muy revoltosos? h¿( ) nadando en el r´ıo? p No, ( )muy tranquilos y no se meten con nadie ii ¿Cu ´al es la diferencia entre los dos usos de los siguientes adjetivos/nombres? ¿Se usa ser o estar? Ejemplo Una persona aburrida y una pel´ıcula aburrida Una persona aburrida es una persona que no es capaz de divertirse. Se usa con estar Una pel´ıcula aburrida produce aburrimiento y genera poco inter´es. Se usa con ser 105 ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH a Una subida cansada yuncaminante cansado b Un chico callado y una plaza callada c Un dolor molesto y una persona molesta d Un enfermo y una persona enferma e Una persona confiada (ser)yuna persona confiada (estar) iii Actividad en parejas Objetivo –Aplicar el uso de ser y estar M ´ etodo – uno (A) de la pareja elige diez adjetivos y nombres y el otro (B) tiene que usarlos con ser o estar.Hay que usar todos los pronombres o nombres Ejemplos A: triste B: (No) estoy triste A: mercado B: Est´an en el mercado A: calle B: Los vecinos est´an en la calle A: rubio B: Es una chica rubia Despu´es de esta actividad, un representante de la clase escribe su trabajo en el pizarr ´on (M)/lapizarra, y los otros miembros de la clase ofrecen otras posibilidades. 106 . (Unidad 13) Ser and estar (Ser y estar) Level 1 1.1 Basic distinctions between ser and estar (Distinciones b ´ asicas entre ser y estar) 1.2 Ser and estar +. adjective (Ser y estar + adjetivo) 1.3 Further differences between ser and estar (M ´ as diferencias entre ser y estar) 1.4 Ser and estar with prepositions, and