The document discusses the present tense of the verb "ser" (to be) in Spanish. It provides the subject pronouns and conjugations of "ser" in both singular and plural forms. It also gives examples of how "ser" is used to identify people and things, express possession and origin, and refer to professions.

1. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
ANTE TODO
 In order to use verbs, you will need to learn about
subject pronouns.
 A subject pronoun replaces the name or title of a
person or thing and acts as the subject of a verb.
 In both Spanish and English, subject pronouns are
divided into three groups: first person, second person,
and third person.

2. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Singular
FIRST PERSON yo I
tú you (familiar)
SECOND PERSON
usted (Ud.) you (formal)
él he
THIRD PERSON
ella she

3. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Plural
nosotros we (masculine)
FIRST PERSON
nosotras we (feminine)
vosotros you (masc., fam.)
SECOND PERSON vosotras you (fem., fam)
ustedes (Uds.) you (form.)
ellos they (masc.)
THIRD PERSON
ellas they (fem.)

4. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
 Spanish has two subject pronouns that mean you
(singular).
 Use tú when addressing a friend, a family member, or a
child you know well.
 Use usted to address a person with whom you have a
formal or more distant relationship, such as a superior
at work, a professor, or an older person.

5. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
 The masculine plural forms nosotros, vosotros, and
ellos refer to a group of males or to a group of males
and females.
 The feminine plural forms nosotras, vosotras, and
ellas can refer only to groups made up exclusively of
females.

6. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
 There is no Spanish equivalent of the English subject
pronoun it. Generally it is not expressed in Spanish.
Es un problema. Es una computadora.
It’s a problem. It’s a computer.

7. 1.3 Present tense of ser
The verb ser (to be)
SINGULAR FORMS
yo soy I am
tú eres you are (fam.)
Ud. / él / ella es you are (form.); he / she is

8. 1.3 Present tense of ser
The verb ser (to be)
PLURAL FORMS
nosotros/as somos we are
vosotros/as sois you are (fam.)
Uds. / ellos / ellas son you are (form.); they are

9. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Uses of ser
To identify people and things
—¿Quién es él? —¿Qué es?
Who is he? What is it?
—Es Javier Gómez Lozano. —Es un mapa de España.
He’s Javier Gómez Lozano. It’s a map of Spain.

10. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Uses of ser
 To express possession, with the preposition de
—¿De quién es? —¿De quiénes son?
Whose is it? Whose are they?
—Es el diario de Maite. —Son los lápices de la chica.
It’s Maite’s diary. They are the girl’s pencils.
—Es la computadora de Álex. —Son las maletas del chico.
It’s Alex’s computer. They are the boy’s suitcases.

11. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Uses of ser
 To express origin, using the preposition de
—¿De dónde es Javier? —¿De dónde es Inés?
Where is Javier from? Where is Inés from?
—Es de Puerto Rico. —Es del Ecuador.
He’s from Puerto Rico. She’s from Ecuador.

12. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Uses of ser
 To express profession or occupation
Don Francisco es conductor.
Don Francisco is a driver.
Yo soy estudiante.
I am a student.

13. 1.3 Present tense of ser
¡ATENCIÓN!
 Unlike English, Spanish does not use the indefinite
article (un, una) after ser when referring to
professions, unless accompanied by an adjective or
other description:
Marta es profesora.
Marta es una profesora excelente.

14. 1.3 Present tense of ser
¡INTÉNTALO! Provide the correct present forms of ser.
1. Gabriel _____
2. Juan y yo (m.) _____
3. Óscar y Flora _____
4. Adriana _____
5. las turistas _____
6. el chico _____
7. los conductores _____
8. el señor y la señora Ruiz _____

15. 1.3 Present tense of ser
Answer key
1. Gabriel es
2. Juan y yo (m.) somos
3. Óscar y Flora son
4. Adriana es
5. las turistas son
6. el chico es
7. los conductores son
8. el señor y la señora Ruiz son