When to use ser and when estar for “to be”
These are the main uses of ser ser, presente and estar estar, presente:
Ser
- To identify and describe someone (nationality, profession, religion, etc.):
Yo soy Ana y él es Teo, somos españoles.
I am Ana and he is Teo; we are Spanish.
Ellos son ingenieros.
They are engineers.
- To express permanent characteristics or qualities:
La piscina del hotel es pequeña.
The hotel swimming pool is small.
- To indicate where and when an event happens:
El funeral de Beatriz es mañana, en la piscina.
Beatriz's funeral is tomorrow, at the pool.
- To indicate date and time:
Hoy es 11 de mayo.
Today is 11 May.
Son las doce y media.
It's half past twelve.
Estar
- To say where people, places and things are located:
Estamos en Buenos Aires.
We're in Buenos Aires.
El hotel está en Madrid.
The hotel is in Madrid.
- To indicate physical states and states of mind:
Magda está triste.
Magda is sad.
Ellas están sentadas.
They are sitting down.
- Always before bien (good, well) or mal (bad, badly)
—¿Cómo estás? —Estoy mal, tengo resaca.
-How are you? -I'm bad, I've got a hangover.
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