Verb "To Be"

Verbo Ser/Estar(to be)

​"Es" and "está" both mean "is" so what's the difference?

You use "es" when something is permanent. Example:

El carro es azul. (The car is blue).

You use "está" when something can change. Example:

El hotel está cerrado. (The hotel is closed).

Sometimes there are cases where the permanence does not apply. For example:

1. El cabello de Laura es negro. (Laura's hair is black).

2. Son las doce y media de la tarde. (It's 12:30pm).

3. Luis es joven. (Luis is young).

   Use "es" for characteristics, hours, dates, origin, professions and relationships.

   Use "está" for position, location, emotion(mood), condition and action.

Verbo Ser/Estar(Verb "To Be")

​Examples of "es" for characteristics:

1. La casa es bonita. (The house is pretty).

2. El carro es azul. (The car is blue).

3. La camisa es blanca. (The shirt is white).

4. Noel es alto. (Noel is tall).

5. Jorge es bajo. (Jorge is short).

6. La puerta es verde. (The door is green).

7. El reloj es rojo. (The watch is red).

8. El sillón es cómodo. (The armchair is comfortable).

9. La escuela es grande. (The school is big).

10. El televisor es pequeño. (The televisor "TV" is small).

11. La flor es roja. (The flower es red).

12. El chico es rubio. (The boy is blond).

13. La chica es rubia. (The girl is blonde).

14. La toalla es marrón. (The towel is brown).

..

​Use of "es" for hours

Examples:

1. Son las doce y media de la mañana. (It's 12:30am).

2. Es la una de la mañana. (It's 1:00 am).

3. Son las dos de la mañana. (It's 2:00am).

4. Son las tres de la tarde. (It's 3:00pm).

5. Son las nueve de la noche. (It's 9:00pm).

​Use "es" for dates

1. Hoy es diez de febrero de 2023. (Today is February 10 of 2023).

2. Hoy es viernes. (Today is Friday).

3. Hoy es veintidós de febrero. (Today is february twenty second).

​Use "es" for origin

Examples:

1. Noel es de Colombia. (Noel is from Colombia).

2. Eric es de Atlanta. (Eric is from Atlanta).

3. Pedro es de mi pueblo. (Pedro is from my town).

​Use "es" for professions

Examples:

1. Jessica es abogada. (Jessica is a lawyer). *In Spanish we skip "a".

2. Ella es enfermera. (She is a nurse). *In Spanish we skip "a".

3. El es médico. (He is a doctor). *In Spanish we skip "a".

​Use "es" for relationships

Examples:

1. Noelia es mi prima. (Noelia is my cousin).

2. Ella es mi amiga. (She is my friend).

3. Juan es mi hermano. (Juan is my brother).

4. El es mi padre. (He is my father).

5. Ella es mi novia. (She is my girlfriend).

​Use "está" for position

Examples:

1. Sonia está al lado de la casa. (Sonia is next to the house).

2. La guitarra está sobre la mesa. (The guitar is on the table).

3. El sombrero está debajo de la mesa. (The hat is below the table).

4. La bola está detrás de la caja. (The ball is behind the box).

​Use "está" for location

Examples:

1. Luis está en el banco. (Luis in in the bank).

2. Ella está en la universidad. (She is at the university).

3. Julio está en la playa. (Julio is on the beach).

4. Elena está en la cocina. (Elena is in the kitchen).

5. El está en Estados Unidos. (He is in United States).

​Use "está" for mood(emotion)

Examples:

1. Javier está feliz. (Javier is happy).

2. Victor está asustado. (Victor is scared).

3. El está cansado. (He is tired).

4. Ella está triste. (She is sad).

5. Laura está llorando. (Laura is crying).

​Use "está" for condition

Examples:

1. El carro está limpio. (The car is clean).

2. La taza está rota. (The cup is broken).

3. El día está nublado. (The day is cloudy).

4. El cristal está brilloso. (The glass is shiny).

5. La máquina de coser está usada. (The sewing machine is used).

​Use "está" for action

Examples:

1. Marcos está estudiando. (Marcos is studying).

2. Manuel está trabajando. (Manuel is working).

3. Brenda está limpiando. (Brenda is cleaning).

4. Ella está jugando. (She is playing).

5. El está bailando. (He is dancing).