Do you know the difference between the Spanish verbs ser and estar? Although both mean "to be," the two verbs have different uses in Spanish. In very general terms, ser is used for more permanent characteristics while estar is used for fleeting conditions. If you need to learn or review the uses of these verbs in more detail, we recommend this lesson from the Yabla Spanish archives entitled Ser and Estar: An Easy Trick for Using These Verbs. Then, when you feel prepared, test yourself out with this quiz!
In the following sentences, choose the correct conjugation of ser or estar to fill in the blank.
a. es
b. está
a. son
b. están
a. es
b. está
a. es
b. está
a. soy
b. estoy
a. somos
b. estamos
a. estoy
b. soy
a. sois
b. estáis
a. son
b. están
a. eres
b. estás
a. son
b. están
a. sois
b. estáis
The following are the answers to all of the questions in this Ser vs. Estar Quiz as well as the translations and grammatical reasons for each.
1. Correct Answer: a. es (ser)
Diego es una persona amable y inteligente.
Diego is a kind and intelligent person.
REASON: The Spanish verb ser is used to describe fixed characteristics of a person, place, or thing.
2. Correct Answer: a. son (ser)
Son las diez y media de la mañana.
It's ten thirty in the morning.
REASON: Always use the verb ser when talking about time. Let's look at another example from Yabla's video library:
Hoy es viernes. Son las siete de la tarde
Today is Friday. It's seven in the evening
Caption 4, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas
Play Caption
3. Correct Answer: b. está (estar)
Mi vecino está en Colombia ahora.
My neighbor is in Colombia now.
REASON: When referring to something or someone's location, choose the verb estar.
4. Correct Answer: a. es (ser)
Mi vecino es de Colombia.
My neighbor is from Colombia.
REASON: Although this example might initially seem similar to the previous one, the word de (from) in this one tips us off that it is referring to origin, which requires the verb ser. Let's see another example:
Eh... Soy argentino y español; mi madre es catalana.
Um... I'm Argentinean and Spanish; my mother is Catalonian.
Caption 3, World Travel Market en Londres - Raúl nos habla de México
Play Caption
5. Correct Answer: b. estoy (estar)
Yo estoy hablando por teléfono en este momento.
I'm talking on the phone right now.
REASON: The key word to remember this use of the verb estar is action. In fact, the verb estar is an integral part of the Spanish present progressive tense, which consists of the verb estar plus the present participle form (equivalent to -ing verbs in English). This tense describes actions unfolding in the present moment, as in the following example:
"¿Qué estás pensando, Aminata?"
"What are you thinking about, Aminata?"
Caption 58, Aprendiendo con Carlos - El microrrelato
Play Caption
6. Correct Answer: b. estamos (estar)
Nosotros estamos sentados en el auditorio.
We're seated in the auditorium.
REASON: Employ the verb estar to talk about position.
7. Correct Answer: a. estoy (estar)
Yo estoy muy contenta porque mi amiga me viene a visitar.
I'm very happy because my friend is coming to visit me.
REASON: When talking about emotions, which tend to be fleeting, it's necessary to use the verb estar.
8. Correct Answer: a. sois (ser)
Vosotros sois altos y flacos.
You guys are tall and thin.
REASON: To provide descriptions, utilize the verb ser along with the pertinent adjectives.
9. Correct Answer: b. están
Casi todos los alumnos están enfermos.
Almost all of the students are sick.
REASON: When describing temporary conditions, such as illness, stress, business, etc., pick the veb estar.
10. Correct Answer: a. eres (ser)
Tú eres maestro de inglés.
You're an English teacher.
REASON: Occupations should be spoken about with the verb ser.
11. Correct Answer: a. son (ser)
Francisco y Eliana son primos.
Francisco and Eliana are cousins.
REASON: The verb ser is the correct choice when describing relationships.
12. Correct answer: b. estáis (estar)
¿Cómo estáis vosotros hoy?
How are you today?
REASON: Since how one "is" changes from moment to moment, this common question might evoke answers that include conditions or emotions. It thus employs the verb estar, as do its potential responses:
Yo estoy bien,
I'm well,
Caption 8, Cleer y Lida - Llegando a una nueva ciudad
Play Caption
Estoy muy enfadada.
I am very angry.
Caption 31, El Aula Azul - Estados de ánimo
Play Caption
That's all for this quiz on the Spanish verbs ser vs. estar. We hope you did well, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments.
Since its straightforward translation is "to arrive," you might wonder if the Spanish verb llegar is worth a whole lesson. However, this is language, and we always find new meanings, uses, and/or idiomatic expressions. That said, let's take a few minutes to analyze this verb and see a qué conclusión podemos llegar ("what conclusion we can draw" or "come to").
When we refer to a place, llegar means "to arrive."
Soñé que llegaba al colegio y estaba sin ropa.
I dreamed that I arrived at school and I was [there] with no clothes.
Caption 27, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 1
Play Caption
Llegar can additonally mean to reach someone, either physically or emotionally. If someone shuts you out, no hay forma de llegar a esa persona (there's no way to reach that person). On the other hand, in the example below, the team at Biopark had not been able to physically reach the leopards.
No había forma de... de llegar a ellos.
There wasn't any way to... to get close to them.
Caption 27, Animales en familia - Un día en Bioparc: Cachorro de leopardo
Play Caption
Again with this idea of reaching, llegar can also be used with an amount or specific point in space as we see in the following examples:
Supongo que si están un poquito más chaparritos,
I guess if you're a little bit shorter,
les ha de llegar al pecho.
it should come up to your chest.
Caption 24, Alan x el mundo - Mi playa favorita de México!
Play Caption
Podremos estar llegando
We could be reaching
a los ochocientos mil euros aproximadamente.
eight hundred thousand euros approximately.
Caption 32, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas
Play Caption
And speaking of money, there is a Spanish idiom that includes this verb: llegar a fin de mes (literally "to make it to the end of the month"), which is the Spanish equivalent of "making ends meet."
Llegar can be used with seasons, months, or times of day as well to indicate their beginning or arrival. In this context, it often translates as "to come": Cuando llega la noche / "When night comes" or "falls."
...y lo tuvo con ella hasta que llegó la primavera.
...and had him with her until spring came.
Caption 41, Cleer - El patito feo
Play Caption
Another meaning of llegar is "to achieve." It is actually a verb that collocates with éxito (success), so if you become succesful, has llegado al éxito (you've achieved success).
De las etapas por las que pasan los conjuntos
Of the stages that groups go through
en su desarrollo y a lo que pueden llegar.
in their development and what they can become.
Captions 74-75, Arturo Vega - Entrevista
Play Caption
Another possible translation of llegar is "to manage to" since when you llegas a hacer algo, you've succedeed in doing it after some effort.
...de lo que yo quería como llegar a expresar, ¿sí?
...to what I wanted to, like, manage to express, right?
Caption 13, Bogotá - Fotógrafo José Segundo Quinche Pérez
Play Caption
Sometimes, when llegar follows si to introduce a condition, it makes that condition a bit more remote since si llego a enterarme de algo is closer to if I happen to/manage to hear anything.
Si llega a saber cualquier cosa que suceda
If you come to find out anything that happens
entre Milagros y su hermano, hágamela saber.
between Milagros and her brother, let me know about it.
Captions 21-22, Muñeca Brava - 33 El partido
Play Caption
Si llega a pillarlos, me avisa y consigo la cámara.
If you manage to catch them, let me know and I'll get the camera.
Caption 72, Los Años Maravillosos - Capítulo 4
Play Caption
As you may notice, many of the meanings of the verb llegar are comparable to those of the English verb "to get" (e.g "to reach," "to arrive," "to manage," etc.).
We hope this lesson has been clear, but si llegan a tener dudas (if you happen to have any questions), don't forget to send us your questions, comments, and suggestions. ¡Hasta la próxima!
Let's continue reviewing examples of phrases that combine prepositions, articles and pronouns. In the previous lesson we talked about combining the preposition con (with) with the indefinite articles (el, la, los, las) and the pronoun que (that, which): con la que, con el que, con los que, con las que (with whom or with which). Let's see the examples, because in real context these phrases can be quite tricky.
Les preguntaron cómo debería ser la escuela
They were asked the question of what the school
con la que ellos sueñan.
that they dream of should be like.
Captions 6-7, Club de las ideas - La escuela que queremos
Play Caption
We can try a more literal translation just to see how Spanish works: "what the school of/with which they dream should be like." Here's another example:
No me parecía el tipo de gente con el que yo me quería involucrar.
They didn't seem to be the kind of people I wanted to get involved with.
Caption 81, Arturo Vega - Entrevista - Part 2
Play Caption
Do you want a literal translation? Here it is: "they didn't seem to be the kind of people with which I wanted to get involved."
It seems that Spanish and English are more parallel when using the plural forms:
Estos espacios recrean un capítulo histórico
These spaces recreate a historic chapter
con los que el coriano convive a diario.
with which the Corian resident coexists daily.
Caption 38, Coro, Venezuela - La Zona Colonial
Play Caption
...y para beneficiar las comunidades con las que trabajamos.
...and to benefit those communities with whom we work.
Caption 48, De consumidor a persona - Short Film
Play Caption
Now let's see how to combine el que, la que, los que, las que with two similar prepositions: por and para. Understanding the difference between these two is a constant challenge, even for advanced learners, so you can never study them too much!
...aquí están las puertas abiertas para el que quiera trabajar.
...here the doors are open for whomever wants to work.
Caption 38, Circo Infantil de Nicaragua - Learning the Trade
Play Caption
...por el que transitan trece millones de clientes al año.
...through which thirteen million customers pass per year.
Caption 14, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas
Play Caption
Esa es buena para la que fuma el puro.
That one is good for the one who smokes cigars.
Caption 44, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos
Play Caption
Y ésta es la razón por la que cuando se piensa en un nombre
And this is the reason why when one thinks of a name
que contribuya a...
that contributes to...
Captions 22-23, El Instituto Cervantes - Director del Instituto
Play Caption
Existe el metro y el autobús
There is the subway and the bus
para los que tienes que comprar billetes.
for which you have to buy tickets.
Captions 69-70, Blanca - Cómo moverse en Barcelona
Play Caption
De las etapas por las que pasan los conjuntos...
Of the stages that groups go through...
Caption 74, Arturo Vega - Entrevista - Part 3
Play Caption
Articles are used before nouns to indicate a subject's number or gender. Sometimes, however, the use of an article before a noun is not required. This happens with both indefinite and definite articles, in Spanish, in English and in many other languages as well. In fact, generally speaking, articles are used the same way in Spanish and English. There are many cases in which the same rules apply for both languages. For example, you don't use definite articles before days of the week or months following the verb ser (to be):
Hoy es viernes. Son las siete de la tarde.
Today is Friday. It's seven in the evening.
Caption 4, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas
Play Caption
or following the preposition de (from):
Trabajo de lunes a sábado.
I work from Monday to Saturday.
Caption 28, Fonda Mi Lupita - Encargado
Play Caption
It's not very common, and even unnecessary, but you could use indefinite articles in both cases. The meaning is slightly different and this happens both in Spanish and English:
Hoy es un miércoles / Hoy es miércoles.
Today is a Wednesday / Today is Wednesday.
Es la misma rutina de un lunes a un viernes / Es la misma rutina de lunes a viernes.
It's the same routine from a Monday to a Friday / It's the same routine from Monday to Friday.
However, there are a few cases in which we wouldn't use "a" or "an" in English, but we would in Spanish and vice versa. For example, in Spanish you can use a definite article before days and say Los lunes no trabajo (I don't work on Mondays) or Estoy esperando desde el lunes (I've been waiting since Monday). These you need to learn, so let's explore some examples.
In Spanish, you can drop indefinite articles when the noun is preceded by words like tal[es] (such), otro/a (other), and qué (what). Compare with the English translation in the following examples:
Qué lástima que no llegaste al partido; estuvo joya.
What a pity that you didn't come to the game; it was awesome.
Caption 36, Muñeca Brava - 33 El partido
Play Caption
...de cierta manera... con ciertos defectos, ¿no?
...in a certain way... with certain defects, right?
Caption 35, Nortec Collective - Bostich+Fussible
Play Caption
In the previous example English drops the article when using the plural only, while Spanish drops it in both singular and plural. And yet, saying de una cierta manera in Spanish is also correct.
Spanish doesn't use definite articles before numerals that express titles of rulers:
El edificio data del siglo dieciocho,
The building dates from the eighteenth century,
en tiempos de Felipe Quinto.
during the time period of Philip the Fifth.
Caption 22, Madrid - Un recorrido por la capital de España
Play Caption
In Spanish you usually drop definite and indefinite articles before nouns in apposition (when a noun explains another). But you don't necessary want to do it every single time. For example, in Spanish you can say Ankara, capital de Turquía, es una bella ciudad (Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is a beautiful city.) However, it's still correct to say Ankara, la capital del Turquía, es una bella ciudad. Obviously, in this case you can't use the definite article. You can't say Ankara, una capital de Turquía—that doesn't make sense either in Spanish or English since cities have, by definition, only one capital.
But check out this example: Juanita, una tía de Raquel, vino de visita (Juanita, one of Raquel's aunts, came to visit). Saying Juanita, tía de Raquel, vino de visita (Juanita, Raquel's aunt, came to visit) is also correct. And Juanita, la tía de Raquel, vino de visita is correct too. The translation in English is the same: Juanita, Raquel's aunt, came to visit. The only difference is that the definite article la (the) confers some sense of specificity to the expression. Maybe it means that Juanita is the only aunt Raquel has, or that she is particularly close or somehow special, she is not just any aunt but la tía (the aunt).
In Spanish you usually drop indefinite articles before unmodified nouns when stating nationality, profession, and religious or political affiliation. You can't always do the same in English. For example:
El Señor Chong es mexicano. Es burócrata. Es Secretario de Gobernación. Es católico. Es priísta.
Mr. Chong is Mexican. He is a bureaucrat. He is Secretary of State. He is a Catholic. He's an affiliate of the PRI party.
Here is another example from our catalog:
Y ¿tu marido es agricultor o algo?
And your husband is a farmer or something?
Caption 55, 75 minutos - Del campo a la mesa
Play Caption
That doesn't mean that saying mi marido es un agricultor (my husband is a farmer) is wrong. It's just not the way you usually state professions. On the other hand, when the noun is modified (usually by an adjective or a subordinate clause), you have to use an article. For example, you must say: mi marido es el agricultor famoso (my husband is the famous farmer) or mi marido es un agricultor que se preocupa por el medio ambiente (my husband is a farmer who cares about the environment).
What is really incorrect is not using articles before the names of languages. When talking about languages, English usually drops the articles, but Spanish doesn't:
El español es un idioma muy bonito.
Spanish is a very nice language.
Caption 57, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Crista Pérez
Play Caption
There's an exception. You can drop the article when the language is used directly after a verb as its complement:
Como... como yo hablo árabe.
Since... since I speak Arabic.
Caption 8, Taimur - Taimur habla
Play Caption
Finally, don't drop the article when telling the time in Spanish. You will always use the feminine definite article la or its plural las, since it refers to la hora (the hour) or las horas (the hours).
Salí a las siete y media... y voy llegando a la una.
I went out at seven thirty... and I'm arriving at one.
Captions 77-78, Calle 13 - La Perla
Play Caption
French
German
Italian
Chinese
English
English 
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português
