A1
ser against estar
How Spanish chooses between ser and estar, the rule that actually works, and the adjectives whose meaning changes with the verb.
English has one verb for to be. Spanish has two, and choosing between them is the single largest hurdle in the language.
The rule that works
ser — what something is: identity, origin, profession, material, the time.
estar — where something is, and what state it is in.
Es simpática.
she-is nice
She’s a nice person.
Está enferma.
she-is ill
She’s ill.
The first describes her; the second describes today.
Permanent against temporary is the wrong rule
It is what most courses teach first, and it breaks immediately. Estar muerto — to be dead — takes estar, and nothing is more permanent. A city takes estar because location always does.
Mi casa es en Madrid.
Mi casa está en Madrid.
Location takes estar whatever the permanence. The exception is an event, which happens rather than sits: la reunión es en la oficina.
The better question is not how long but what kind of statement: are you saying what it is, or how it is?
Some adjectives change meaning
This is where the choice stops being a matter of nuance.
| ser | estar | |
|---|---|---|
| aburrido | boring | bored |
| listo | clever | ready |
| rico | rich | delicious |
| verde | green | unripe |
| malo | bad | ill |
| bueno | good | tasty, attractive |
Es aburrido.
he-is boring
He’s boring.
Está aburrido.
he-is bored
He’s bored.
One verb apart, and one of them is an insult.
With food, estar is a compliment
La paella es buena says paella is a good dish in general. La paella está buena says this one tastes good — which is what you say at the table.
¡Está buenísimo!
it-is very-good
This is delicious!