Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Estoy enfermo desde ayer, así que me quedo en cama. - I have been sick since yesterday, so I am staying in bed.

In Spanish, estar is used for states or conditions that are temporary or subject to change, such as illness. Ser, on the other hand, describes more permanent characteristics or inherent qualities. Since being sick is usually considered a temporary state, estoy enfermo is the correct choice.

Why do we use desde ayer rather than something like por un día?

Desde ayer literally means “since yesterday,” emphasizing the starting point in time. It tells you when the sickness began. Saying por un día (for a day) could suggest the duration so far, but in Spanish, desde is commonly used to indicate a starting point in time or a continuous period that began at a specific moment in the past.

What is the role of así que in this sentence?

Así que means “so” or “therefore” and introduces the consequence of the first part of the sentence. The speaker is explaining that because they have been sick since yesterday, the logical outcome is that they will stay in bed.

Why is it me quedo and not just quedo?

Quedarse is a pronominal (reflexive) verb that often means “to stay (somewhere)”. Without the reflexive pronoun me, quedar can have other meanings, like “to fit” or “to remain” in a more impersonal sense. In this context, using me quedo focuses on the action of the speaker remaining in bed.

Is it correct to say en la cama instead of en cama?

In everyday speech, both en la cama and en cama can be heard. En cama is often used to emphasize the state of being bedridden or resting in bed. En la cama can be slightly more literal, meaning “in the bed.” In many cases, they can be used interchangeably, though en cama might suggest more of a connotation of staying in bed due to illness rather than just lying in bed.