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Spanish Vocab > Ser vs Estar > Flashcards

Ser vs Estar Flashcards

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1
Q

They are having pizza in the park.

A

Ellos están comiendo pizza en el parque. Here we’re explaining what they are doing. We always use ESTAR for “-ing” situations.

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2
Q

Colombia is a big country.

A

Colombia es un país grande. Here we are talking about an un-changing characteristic of Colombia. It’s not going to change sizes anytime soon.

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3
Q

This team is very good.

A

Este equipo es muy bueno. We have to use this verb to explain the quality of the team in the sentence.

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4
Q

Paula is beautiful today.

A

Paula está hermosa hoy. In this example we talk about describing in a particular moment in Paula’s beauty.

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5
Q

I am watching the soccer game at the stadium.

A

Yo estoy viendo el juego de fútbol en el estadio. Is referring to an action that is developing in one place, at a determined time, it’s temporary.

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6
Q

The apple is ripe.

A

La manzana está madura. Here, we use the verb “estar” to indicate the status of something.

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7
Q

She is my mom.

A

Ella es mi madre. Shows a mom and son or daughter relationship and this relationship won’t change in time.

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8
Q

Edward is in Barcelona.

A

Edward está en Barcelona. Edward is in Barcelona right now, but he won’t always be. It’s not part of him.

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9
Q

Renata is very tired of doing exercises.

A

Renata está muy cansada de hacer ejercicio. In this example’ we are talking about what Renata feel because of what she is doing or what she was doing.

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10
Q

I am happy.

A

Yo estoy feliz. This is a specific mood for a shorter period of time. It is temporary, so the state of happiness could change anytime.

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11
Q

The soup is cold.

A

La sopa esta fría. We are talking about the state of the soup, which in this case is cold.

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12
Q

She is married.

A

Ella está casada. I am giving the subject a non permanent characteristic (hopefully it is though!).

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13
Q

Paula is beautiful.

A

Paula es hermosa. In this example we’re talking only about Paula’s permanent beauty.

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14
Q

The apple is green. (it’s not ripe)

A

La manzana está verde. The apple is only temporarily green in this case, because it’s not ripe.

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15
Q

We are on a journey to Australia.

A

Nosotros estamos en un viaje por Australia. I am giving the subject a current location (nonpermanent).

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16
Q

¿Where is the teacher?

A

¿Dónde está la profesora? This is the standard way to ask where someone is (which is temporary).

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17
Q

This party is really fun

A

Esta fiesta está realmente divertida. We have to use ESTAR to describe the moment.

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18
Q

I am in bed.

A

Estoy en cama. Again, locations always use SER. You’re not always in bed.

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19
Q

María is in a good mood.

A

María está de buen humor. One’s mood always changes throughout the day, and we experience different emotions in one day, so, we use Estar because we are talking about a condition.

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20
Q

The soccer game is in the Stadium.

A

El juego de fútbol es en el estadio. Here we are referring to where the event is taking place.

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21
Q

She is fighter.

A

Ella es peleona. We use SER because is a characteristic of the person. It’s something that can’t change easily.

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22
Q

I am an astronaut.

A

Soy un astronauta. We use SER for professions because they are considered a “part of” who the person is.

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23
Q

My girlfriend is fighting with me.

A

Mi novia está peleando conmigo. We use ESTAR in the second sentence because the situation can change in a moment, it’s not something that will be happing forever

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24
Q

She is cold. (Her body temperature)

A

Ella está fría. In this case when you use verb ESTAR and the adjective COLD the sentence takes the literal meaning of the word cold related to very low temperature. Her body is cold.

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25
Q

The ice is cold.

A

El hielo es frío. The ice is always cold because if it wasn’t cold, it wouldn’t be ice. Coldness is part of what it is.

26
Q

It is pizza what they are having now.

A

Es pizza lo que ellos comen ahora. Here we’re explaining what kind of food is it.

27
Q

The Stadium is downtown.

A

El estadio está en el centro de la ciudad. Here we are referring to the physical location of the stadium (which sounds permanent, but we use Estar for locations).

28
Q

My mom is sad.

A

Mi mamá está triste. Shows the mood that the mom is right now.

29
Q

The water is cold.

A

El agua está fría. In the case of the water depends if it is on the fridge or under the sun. The state can change, it is temporary.

30
Q

He is waiter.

A

Él es mesero. We use SER because is a characteristic of the person.

31
Q

We are from NYC.

A

Nosotros somos de NYC. I am giving the subject an origin (permanent).

32
Q

The apple is green. (color of the fruit)

A

La manzana es verde. Here we give a characteristic of the fruit. It’s not green just for a moment, that’s part of what it is.

33
Q

Javier is at the church

A

Javier está en la iglesia. ESTAR is for locations.

34
Q

She is very pretty.

A

Ella es muy bonita. I am giving the subject a permanent characteristic.

35
Q

I am a sleepy person.

A

Yo soy una persona dormilona. Here we are talking about a permanent characteristic of the person, so we use SER.

36
Q

Renata is a very athletic person.

A

Renata es una persona muy deportiva. This is part of who Renata is as a person, not a temporary state, so we use SER.

37
Q

She is very beautiful tonight.

A

Ella está muy hermosa esta noche. I am giving the subject a non-permanent characteristic. Maybe she’s not usually this pretty :(

38
Q

I am from Colombia.

A

Yo soy de Colombia. We are talking about a characteristic, where I am from. The country or nationality.

39
Q

The apple is red.

A

La manzana es roja. The adjective is used to point out a specific feature about something that makes it unique or stand out from the rest.

40
Q

I am in Spain.

A

Yo estoy en España. We are talking about a condition. I am in a place (country) at the current moment.

41
Q

Santiago is a dead man.

A

Santiago es hombre muerto. Somebody very dangerous has threatened Santiago’s life. He’s not actually dead yet but probably he will be soon. In this case you should use SER, and the complement “hombre muerto”

42
Q

She is a mother.

A

Ella es una madre. I am giving the subject a permanent characteristic.

43
Q

My grandpa is young, he’s only 45.

A

Mi abuelo es joven, apenas tiene 45 años. In this case you use verb SER when you want to say that the person is actually young.

44
Q

The soup is tasty at that restaurant.

A

En ese restaurante la sopa es muy sabrosa. We are giving a characteristic to the soup from that restaurant specifically.

45
Q

I am in space.

A

Estoy en el espacio. In this case, we’re talking about where the astronaut is at that time.

46
Q

The seatbelts are in the car.

A

Los cinturones de seguridad están en el carro. Here we’re talking about where the seatbelt is. We use ESTAR for locations.

47
Q

I am a happy person.

A

Yo soy una persona feliz. This is a permanent state of being. Part of someone’s personality. It is just the way that person is most of the time.

48
Q

Carlos and Gabriela are spouses.

A

Carlos y Gabriela son esposos. In this case, we are describing their relationship to each other.

49
Q

Colombia is progressing.

A

Colombia está progresando. Here we are talking about the current state of the country.

50
Q

This is a retro party.

A

Esta fiesta es retro. We have to use SER to describe what kind party it is.

51
Q

Edward is from Venezuela.

A

Edward es de Venezuela. Edward is from Venezuela, meaning that’s a permanent part of who he is.

52
Q

Javier is catholic.

A

Javier es católico. Shows Javier’s religious beliefs.

53
Q

Who is the teacher?

A

¿Quién es la profesora? We are asking about a person’s profession, when we use Ser, as it’s considered a part of who they are.

54
Q

Carlos and Gabriela are married.

A

Carlos y Gabriela estáncasados. Here, we talk about their marital status, which is a condition or a state.

55
Q

The seatbelts are important.

A

Los cinturones de seguridad son importantes. This is stating a quality of the seatbelt: that it’s important. It’s never not important, so this is a characteristic of the seatbelt and thus we use SER.

56
Q

My grandfather is young for his age.

A

Mi abuelo está joven para su edad. In this case you use ESTAR when you want to say that the person looks younger than his/her age.

57
Q

She is cold. (Her personality)

A

Ella es fría. In this case when you use verb SER and the adjective COLD the sentence takes a figurative connotation meaning that she has a cold personality, without feelings.

58
Q

The waiter is writing the order.

A

El mesonero está escribiendo la orden. Here we’re referring to an action in progress.

59
Q

María is a happy person.

A

María es una persona muy alegre. Being happy is a part of María’s personality, so it’s a constant, is part of WHAT María is, so we use ser.

60
Q

John Lennon is dead.

A

John Lennon está muerto. We have learnt that SER is used for permanent situations and ESTAR for transitory situations, that is generally the rule. But rules usually have exceptions and this one of those. Being dead is a permanent state. But the right verb to use is ESTAR. You cannot say “John Lennon es muerto”

Spanish Vocab (3 decks)

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