Spanish language learning forums

Spanish language learning forums (http://forums.tomisimo.org/index.php)

- Grammar (http://forums.tomisimo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=19)

- - Estado & sido (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=21827)

I am a little confused about when to use estado and sido

Several internet resources list the following:
Estado is from estar and sido is from ser. Hence, estado releases to location.

Estado is for changing states. Sido is for permeant traits

But then in a Spanish course it has the following examples:

Quote:

1) They are being what they always [have]
been.
Están siendo lo que siempre [they have] sido.

2) They are doing as they always [have] been.
Están como siempre [they have] estado.

3) He has been fine.
Ha estado bien.

4) He's very well, as always [he has] been.
Está muy bien, como siempre [he has] estado.

5) The [ladies have] been with the [man].
Las [ladies have] estado con el [man].

6) [We have] been [good friends].
sido

None of these examples follow the rules of changing/permeant states or locations.

So why is sido used in some examples and estado in another (especially in examples 1 & 2, which seem to be saying the same thing [e.g. they both say been]).

Look here for the different uses of estar and ser.

Unfortunately, this "method" to distinguish "ser" from "estar" based on permanent/changing states is very popular, but inaccurate and it causes a lot of confusion for learners. ;(

"Ser" is used for traits inherent to the subject (like "what someone/something is", "what someone/something is like") and "estar" is for features that aren't intrinsic to the subject (there is a process or an accident that made the subject have this characteristic, or their location --like "how someone is doing", "where someone/something is"). :)

Take a look at this thread for the differences between "ser" and "estar".