How do I explain the difference between "ser" and "estar" to an English speaking person?

Question

I am a native Spanish speaker, and a teacher of English. But I am trying to help a friend who is learning Spanish on his own. He struggles when it comes to use "be" in Spanish. I can give him many explanations, but I think it would only confuse him more. A native English speaker who teaches Spanish would probably give a brief, concise answer, which is what he needs.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

That's a tough one! I'm also a native Spanish speaker and I imagine that the usage of these words poses the same kind of difficulty for English speakers that "do" and "make" represent for us.

I think we use "ser" for those characteristics that define a person /object permanently:
"Soy argentina"
"Soy de Boca" (I'm not, actually!)
"Soy impaciente"

whereas "estar" is used for transient states or qualifiers:
"Estoy cansada"
"Los ladrones estaban arrepentidos"
"La casa está sucia"

Tell your friend to note the difference between:
"El perro es nervioso" (permanent character)
and
"El perro está nervioso"


Estar is also the verb to use with circumstantials (of place, time, etc):
"Están en el parque"
"Estaremos con mis amigos"

while "ser" is the auxiliary for passive voice:
"Martín fue atacado por un perro"


Here's a couple of webpages with lessons on usage of these verbs:
http://www.auladiez.com/ejercicios/23_ve…
http://www.bowdoin.edu/~eyepes/newgr/gra… (this one has a table with usage definitions)

Hope this helps!

PS I'm also curious about the explanation that a native English speaker would give, so I'll check back :-)

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

It was concise, and I appreciated the links. Written in a friendly tone.

Answer 2

Ser is used for:

1. origin
2. physical traits
3. fairly permanent things

Estar is used for:

1. location
2. emotions
3. state of being
4. fairly changeable things

Learning the difference between these two is something that is late acquired (meaning it takes a while for it to really sink in). Mostly, it should be taught as what sounds right. If the person hears enough repetitions of its use, it will come naturally because that is what will sound right to them.

Source(s):

a Spanish teacher for 20 years

Answer 3

May be giving many exemples, such as :" yo estoy en el jardin", which means "I`m in the garden" , and then : "yo soy el profesor" or "yo soy Mike" which means "I`m the teacher" or "I`m Mike", but sometimes I`ve heard the same mistake tallking and it isn`t dificult to anderstand in spanish. Maybe using songs is an easy way to make it better. Usually we sing different songs and it results much better. Good luck!

Answer 4

In Spanish, a different verb is used to express "to be" depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.

La manzana está verde. (estar)
The apple is green. (condition)

La manzana es verde. (ser)
The apple is green. (essence)

Or 'Soy Maria. Estoy en el laboratorio' I am Maria. I am in the laboratory.

Answer 5

You use ser for things that are permanent, you can never change. Such as your characteristics. ex.height,nationality,race/ethnicity etc.
Use estar for things that are temporary, things that you can change. Such as emotions.I'm sad, happy, angry etc.

Answer 6

Ser = who you are
Estar = how you feel, where you are

Soy norteamericana
Estoy muy bien en los Estados Unidos.

Source(s):

BA, Spanish University of California, Riverside and 30 years speaking Spanish

Answer 7

This is likely one of the most difficult concepts for an English speaking student to wrap his mind around, as there simply aren't any equivalents in English.
The easiest way around this one is to provide him with lots of examples. He's going to begin by guessing, but once you correct him, and give him examples (no explanations -- just lots of examples) he's going to gradually intuit the pattern.
This is the way we learn to speak as children, by guessing, making mistakes and hearing correct examples. Eventually, we put it all together. At least, some of us do. And that's what your friend is going to have to do with those pesky Spanish verbs, 'ser' and 'estar'.

Answer 8

i think ser is more so a permanent state of being
while estar is more short term and in the now

dont know if that helps but it is hard to explain