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Spanish (Spain)

In Spanish, there are two verbs that mean "to be": **ser** and **estar**.

- Use **ser** for characteristics and identity (what something *is*).
- Use **estar** for temporary states, conditions, and locations (how someone feels or where something is).

Using **ser** or **estar** can even change the meaning of an adjective:

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### Characteristics vs. States

Use **ser** for natural or permanent traits, and **estar** for conditions that can change or for locations.

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The same applies to being clean (**limpio**) or dirty (**sucio**). A cat might be a clean animal by nature (**ser**), but a house is just clean right now (**estar**).

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### Adjective Agreement

As with **ser**, adjectives used with **estar** must match the gender and number of the noun they describe.

*(Note: **Agua** uses **el** in the singular for easier pronunciation, but it is a feminine noun. Its adjectives must be feminine!)*

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### Open and Closed

Always use **estar** for physical states like being open (**abierto**) or closed (**cerrado**).

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Ser vs. estar

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular subjects and 'ser' (yo soy, esto es)

Plural nouns and definite articles (los, las)

Plural pronouns and 'ser' (somos, sois, son)

Adjective agreement (-o, -a, -os, -as)

Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)

Simple negation (no)

Yes/no questions

Regular '-ar' verbs (-o, -as, -a...)

Regular '-er' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Regular '-ir' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Locative adverbs (aquí, allí)

Question words (quién, cómo)

The verb estar (estoy, estás)

The preposition en (en)

The verb tener (tengo, tienes)

Possessive determiners (mi, tu, su)

Origin and possession (de, del)

The verb ir (voy, vas)

Destination (a, al)

The personal 'a' (a)

Stem-changing verbs: e to ie

Stem-changing verbs: o to ue

Irregular first-person verbs

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se)

Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)

Numbers 11 to 20 (once, doce, trece)

Counting by tens to 100 (treinta, cuarenta, cien)

Compound numbers up to 99 (veintiuno, treinta y uno)

Days of the week (el lunes, el martes)

The family and the personal 'a' (a mi tío, a mi prima)

Months of the year

Telling time (es la, son las)

Verbs of liking (me gusta)

Plural agreement with verbs of liking (gustan)

Degree modifiers (muy, mucho)

Formal address (usted, ustedes)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

Obligation (tener que)

Present continuous (-ando, -iendo)

Affirmative commands (tú, vosotros)

Basic Food and Drink

The Human Body: Head and Arms

The Human Body: Legs and Health

Wardrobe Essentials

Fresh Produce

Meals and Proteins

Public Transport

Hello and goodbye (hola, ¿qué tal?)

Thank you, sorry, OK (gracias, vale)

There is, there are (hay)

My building (la escalera, el ascensor)

Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)

Land and sea (el mar, el río, el norte)

Sightseeing (la plaza, la catedral)

Asking the way (cerca, a la derecha, todo recto)

In class (¿puedes repetir?)

Verb + infinitive (quiero comer, sé leer)

What's your name? (me llamo, encantado)

Phone, computer and email

Hundreds and thousands (doscientos, mil)

What do you do? (¿a qué te dedicas?)

Personal details (la edad, la fecha de nacimiento)

Me neither (también, tampoco, ni)

How much is it? (el precio, la vuelta)

What's the weather like? (hace sol, nieva)

Free time (el concierto, el tenis)

At the bar (¿qué vas a tomar?)

The Natural World

Demonstratives (este, ese, aquel)

Prepositions of place (encima de, debajo de)

Prepositional pronouns (para mí, contigo)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero to décimo)

Adverbs of frequency (a veces, nunca)

Exclamations (¡qué...!)

Indefinite pronouns (algo, alguien)

Indefinite determiners (algún, ningún)

Indirect object pronouns (le, les)

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

Double object pronouns (se lo, se la)

Verbs of preference (encantar, interesar)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Starting and finishing actions (empezar a, terminar de)

Adjective comparatives (más que, menos que)

Comparatives of equality (tan como)

Noun comparatives (tanto como)

Irregular comparatives (mejor, peor, mayor, menor)

Question	Answer
boring / bored	aburrido
The book is boring.	El libro es aburrido.
The boy is bored.	El niño está aburrido.
the ice	el hielo
cold	frío
The ice is cold.	El hielo es frío.
The ice is here.	El hielo está aquí.
the coffee	el café
The coffee is cold today.	El café está frío hoy.
the water (f)	el agua
The water is cold.	El agua está fría.
hot	caliente
The water is hot.	El agua está caliente.
The milk is hot.	La leche está caliente.
The coffee is very hot.	El café está muy caliente.
clean	limpio
The cat is very clean.	El gato es muy limpio.
The house is clean now.	La casa está limpia ahora.
dirty	sucio
The cars are dirty.	Los coches están sucios.
The restaurant is dirty.	El restaurante está sucio.
open	abierto
The shop is open.	La tienda está abierta.
The window is open too.	La ventana está abierta también.
closed	cerrado
The museums are closed.	Los museos están cerrados.
The door is closed.	La puerta está cerrada.