This document provides information about the differences between the Spanish verbs ser and estar. It explains that ser is used to describe permanent or inherent qualities, while estar is used for temporary states. It provides the conjugations of both verbs and introduces the acronyms DOCTOR and PLACE to help remember how to use ser and estar appropriately in different contexts like descriptions, occupations, characteristics, time, origin, relationships, position, location, actions, conditions, and emotions.
2. SER AND ESTAR ARE BOTH TO BE VERBS
We have already learned that there are two “to be” verbs in
Spanish.
Here they are along with their conjugations. Please write them
down along with their translations:
SER TO BE ESTAR TO BE
Yo SOY Nosotros
SOMOS
Yo estoy Nosotros
ESTAMOS
Tú ERES Vosotros SOIS Tú estás Vosotros
estáis
Él ES
Ella ES
Usted ES
Ellos SON
Ellas SON
Ustedes SON
Él está
Ella está
Usted está
Ellos están
Ellas están
Ustedes están
3. HOW DO I REMEMBER?
Use the Acronyms DOCTOR and
PLACE
The followings slides will tell
use what those stand for.
Use the Acronyms DOCTOR and
PLACE
The followings slides will tell
use what those stand for.
4. SER – GENERAL RULE
General Ser Rule
Ser is used to classify and identify permanent or lasting
attributes. If the general rule isn´t specific enough for
you, think of the acronym DOCTOR, which stands for
Description,
Occupation, Characteristic, Time, Origin,
and Relationship.
As with any rule, there may be exceptions to the permanent vs. temporary state of
being, but it is a place to start when deciding which verb to use in Spanish.
5. DOCTOR SER– D IS FOR DESCRIPTION
For description, think of what you would say if someone
asked you "What´s he like?" These are the essential
qualities that define a person and probably won´t
change. They can be a name or a physical description.
Yo Yo soysoy Raúl. Raúl. (I (I amam Raúl.) Raúl.)
Yo Yo soysoy baja, pelirroja y seriabaja, pelirroja y seria. .
(I (I amam short, red-haired, and serious.) short, red-haired, and serious.)
6. DOCTOR SER O IS FOR OCCUPATION
Occupations are seen as life-long careers and areOccupations are seen as life-long careers and are
therefore seen as more "permanent" thantherefore seen as more "permanent" than
many people would think in the United States.many people would think in the United States.
SoySoy maestra del español. maestra del español. (I (I amam a Spanish a Spanish
teacher.)teacher.)
Ellos Ellos sonson estudiantes. estudiantes. (They (They areare students.) students.)
Mi padre Mi padre es un camareres un camareroo. . (My father (My father isis a a
waiter.)waiter.)
No Indefinite ArticlesNo Indefinite Articles
Notice that the indefinite articles Notice that the indefinite articles un, una,un, una,
unos,unos, and and unasunas are are omittedomitted when when
describing an occupation after the verb serdescribing an occupation after the verb ser
7. DOCTOR SER– C IS FOR CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics are personalityCharacteristics are personality
descriptions of a person. These woulddescriptions of a person. These would
probably be the second thing you say toprobably be the second thing you say to
"What´s he like?""What´s he like?"
Amalia Amalia eses inteligente, bonita, y inteligente, bonita, y
amableamable. . (Amelia (Amelia isis intelligent, pretty, and intelligent, pretty, and
friendly.)friendly.)
Mi esposo Mi esposo eses romántico y cariñoso romántico y cariñoso. . (My(My
husband husband isis romantic and caring.) romantic and caring.)
8. DOCTOR SER – T IS FOR TIME
Time includes days, dates, and hours. For hours,Time includes days, dates, and hours. For hours,
use es for one o´clock and son for all other hours.use es for one o´clock and son for all other hours.
Hoy Hoy eses lunes, el veintisiete de febrero lunes, el veintisiete de febrero. . (Today (Today isis
Monday, February 27th.)Monday, February 27th.)
Mañana es mi cumpleañosMañana es mi cumpleaños. . (Tomorrow is my(Tomorrow is my
birthday.)birthday.)
Ahora Ahora eses la una y media. la una y media. (Right now (Right now it´sit´s one thirty.) one thirty.)
SonSon las cinco y veinticinco las cinco y veinticinco. . ((It´sIt´s five twenty five.) five twenty five.)
9. DOCTOR SER – O #2 IS FOR ORIGIN
As the place a person is from or theAs the place a person is from or the
material something is made from is notmaterial something is made from is not
going to change we use ser for origin.going to change we use ser for origin.
Celia Celia eses de de EspañaEspaña. . (Celia (Celia isis from Spain.) from Spain.)
Adela Adela eses mexicanamexicana. . (Adela (Adela isis Mexican.) Mexican.)
MiMi anilloanillo eses de de orooro. . (My ring (My ring isis gold.) gold.)
10. DOCTOR SER R IS FOR RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships are described with the verb SER
Lynn Lynn eses mi madre. mi madre. ((Lynn Lynn isis my my
mother.)mother.)
Marcos Marcos eses mi ex- mi ex-
novio. novio. (Marcos (Marcos isis my ex-boyfriend.) my ex-boyfriend.)
Andrés Andrés eses mi hermano. mi hermano. (Andre is my(Andre is my
brother.)brother.)
11. ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE!
General Estar Rule
Estar is used to indicate temporary states
and locations. If the general rule doesn´t
suffice, think of the acronym PLACE, which
stands for
Position, Location, Action, Condition, and
Emotion.
12. ESTAR IS THE PLACE – P IS FOR POSITION
1. Position
Position is the physical position or posture a person orPosition is the physical position or posture a person or
thing is in.thing is in.
Mi abuela Mi abuela estáestá sentada. sentada. (My grandmother (My grandmother isis sitting sitting
down/seated.)down/seated.)
El libroEl libro está debajo deestá debajo de la mesala mesa. (The book is under. (The book is under
the table.)the table.)
13. ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE – L IS FOR LOCATION
The location of someone or something describesThe location of someone or something describes
where it is permanently, temporarily, actually, orwhere it is permanently, temporarily, actually, or
conceptually.conceptually.
El baño El baño estáestá al lado de la cafetería al lado de la cafetería. . (The(The
bathroom bathroom is next to the cafeteriais next to the cafeteria.).)
EstamosEstamos en el café ahora y vamos a estar en el en el café ahora y vamos a estar en el
cine en 20 minutoscine en 20 minutos. . (We (We areare at the café right now at the café right now
and we and we will bewill be at the movie theatre in 20 at the movie theatre in 20
minutes.)minutes.)
Madrid está en España.Madrid está en España. (Madrid is in Spain(Madrid is in Spain.).)
14. ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE A IS FOR ACTION
Estar is used to describe an ongoing action using
the present progressive tense. (You will learn
more about that later )
EstoyEstoy lavando los platos sucios lavando los platos sucios. . (I (I amam washing washing
the dirty dishes.)the dirty dishes.)
EstamosEstamos leyendo los leyendo los
periódicosperiódicos. . (We (We areare reading the newspapers.) reading the newspapers.)
Mi bisabuelo Mi bisabuelo estáestá muerto muerto. (My great-
grandfather is dead.)
15. ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE- C IS FOR CONDITION
Physical and mental conditions are describedPhysical and mental conditions are described
using estar.using estar.
EstoyEstoy tan cansada esta mañana tan cansada esta mañana. . (I (I amam so tired so tired
this morning.)this morning.)
Mis niños Mis niños estánestán enfermos hoy enfermos hoy. . (My(My
children children areare sick today.) sick today.)
Mi madre Mi madre estáestá un poca loca un poca loca. . (My(My
mother mother isis (acting) a little crazy.) (acting) a little crazy.)
16. ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE – E IS FOR EMOTION
How a person is feeling at a certain moment is describedHow a person is feeling at a certain moment is described
using estar. Emotions can change.using estar. Emotions can change.
EstoyEstoy triste triste. . (I (I amam sad.) sad.)
Ella Ella estáestá contenta porque recibió unas flores de su contenta porque recibió unas flores de su
novio.novio.
(She (She isis happy because she received some flowers from happy because she received some flowers from
her boyfriend.)her boyfriend.)
17. USE DOCTOR SER OR ESTAR IS THE PLACE TO BE
If all else fails remember this rhyme:
HOW YOU FEELFEEL ANDAND
WHERE YOU AREWHERE YOU ARE
ALWAYS USE THE VERB
ESTARESTAR!!!
WHO ARE YOU? ARE YOU
FROM THERE? THAT’S
WHEN YOU USE THE
VERBO SER!!!