Ser vs. Estar review

Ser vs. Estar review

By Emily Bayer

​SER = IDENTITY, date and time

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ESTAR - How you feel and where you are​

Multiple Choice

Yo ___________ muy nerviosa.

• soy

• estoy

• eres

• estás

Yo ESTOY muy nerviosa.

ESTOY is the correct answer because NERVOUS is how I FEEL.

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How you FEEL and where you ARE is when you use the verb ESTAR.​

Multiple Choice

Tú ______ de Francia, ¿verdad?

• soy

• estoy

• eres

• estás

Tú ERES de Francia, ¿verdad?

ERES is the correct answer because I am verifying where you are FROM.

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I am asking for your ORIGIN (one of the Os in D.O.C.T.O.R.)

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This is also part of your IDENTITY -- you are from France, and that is a part of who you are.​

Multiple Choice

___________ las diez de la noche.

• es

• son

• está

• están

SON las diez de la noche.

SON is the correct answer because we are telling what TIME it is.

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TIME is the T in D.O.C.T.O.R.

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**We use SON when the hour is between 2 and 12.

**We only use ES when the hour is 1.​

​

Multiple Choice

Mi tarea ____________ en mi casa.

• es

• son

• está

• están

Mi tarea ESTÁ en mi casa.

ESTÁ is the correct answer because I am saying where my homework is LOCATED.

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LOCATION is the L in P.L.A.C.E.

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How you feel and where you are is when you use the verb ESTAR.​

Multiple Choice

Mi cumpleaños ______ el doce de julio.

• es

• son

• está

• están

Mi cumpleaños ES el doce de julio.

ES is the correct answer because I am telling you a DATE.

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DATE is the D in D.O.C.T.O.R.

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Ser is really used for three things: identity, DATE and time.

Multiple Choice

El libro ________ en la mesa (table) al lado de la taza de café.

• es

• son

• está

• están

El libro ESTÁ en la mesa....

ESTÁ is the correct answer because I explaining WHERE the book is LOCATED.

​

LOCATION is the L in P.L.A.C.E.

​

How you feel and where you are is when you use the verb ESTAR.​

Multiple Choice

Mi abuela ___________ una persona muy feliz y generosa.

• es

• son

• está

• están

Mi abuela ES una persona muy...

ES is the correct answer because I am describing my grandmother's general characteristics/personality to you.

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Characteristics (physical or personality-wise) are the C in D.O.C.T.O.R.

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Since being a happy and generous person is part of her personality, it is part of her IDENTITY, what she is known for.​

Multiple Choice

Ariana ___________ mi hermana.

• es

• son

• está

• están

Ariana ES mi hermana.

ES is the correct answer because I am explaning her RELATIONSHIP to me.

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RELATIONSHIP is the R in D.O.C.T.O.R.

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Also, being my sister is a part of Ariana's IDENTITY, and anything used to identify something about someone calls for the use of SER.​

Multiple Choice

El Sr. Smith _____ el director de la escuela. (principal)

• es

• son

• está

• están

El Sr. Smith ES el director de la...

ES is the correct answer because I am his OCCUPATION.

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OCUUPATION is the O in D.O.C.T.O.R.

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Also, being a principal is part of Mr. Smith's IDENTITY, and anything used to identify something about someone calls for the use of SER.​

Multiple Choice

Mis amigos ___________ muy cansados hoy. (cansados = tired)

• es

• son

• está

• están

Mis amigos están muy cansados hoy.

ESTÁN is the correct answer because I am explaining their CONDITION.

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CONDITION is the C in P.L.A.C.E.

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Also, my friends FEEL tired -- and how you feel and where you are is when you use the verb ESTAR.