Ellos están en la estación ahora.

to be

Breakdown of Ellos están en la estación ahora.

• ellos: they
• ahora: now
• la estación: the station
• en: in, at

Questions & Answers about Ellos están en la estación ahora.

Why do we use están instead of son?

Están comes from the verb estar, which typically describes temporary, changing states (such as location or mood). By contrast, son comes from ser, used for more permanent or inherent qualities. Here, we’re talking about their current location, so están is the right choice.

Why is the subject ellos explicitly mentioned if Spanish often drops the subject pronoun?

Spanish is indeed a pro-drop language, meaning the subject pronoun can be omitted if the context is clear. However, saying ellos can add clarity (especially if multiple groups were mentioned) or emphasis on “they” in particular.

Why do we say en la estación and not a la estación?

Using en means “in” or “at,” indicating that they are already inside or at the station. If you use a, it often implies motion towards somewhere (e.g., van a la estación – “they go to the station”). In this sentence, they are already there, so en is correct.

Is ahora always necessary to show the present time?

Not always. The present tense already indicates a current action or state. However, ahora emphasizes “right now” more strongly. Saying Ellos están en la estación still means they are there at present, but adding ahora highlights “at this very moment.”

Can ellos be replaced with ellas?

Yes, if you’re referring to a group of only females, you’d use ellas. Ellos is masculine or mixed, while ellas is exclusively feminine. The rest of the sentence remains the same.