A1
estar — state and place
The present tense of estar, the states and locations it covers, and the expressions built on it.
| estoy | I am |
| estás | you are |
| está | he / she / it is |
| estamos | we are |
| estáis | you are (Spain) |
| están | they are |
Note the accents: every form except estoy and estamos carries one, and it is what puts the stress on the last syllable.
Estoy cansado.
I-am tired (m.)
I’m tired.
El libro está en la mesa.
the book is on the table
The book’s on the table.
What estar covers
Location, and any condition that could change — mood, health, temperature, whether something is open or closed.
¿Cómo estás?
how are-you
How are you?
La tienda está cerrada.
the shop is closed (f.)
The shop’s closed.
It builds the progressive
Estar plus the -ando or -iendo form, exactly as English uses be plus -ing.
Estoy comiendo.
I-am eating
I’m eating.
Spanish uses this far less than English, though — the plain present already covers I eat and I am eating, and the progressive is reserved for something genuinely happening at this moment.
The set phrases
Estar de acuerdo (to agree), estar a punto de (to be about to), estar bien and estar mal.
No estoy de acuerdo.
not I-am of agreement
I don’t agree.
Soy de acuerdo.
Estoy de acuerdo.
Agreement is a position you currently hold rather than something you are, so it takes estar. The same goes for estar listo — ready — where ser listo means to be clever.