Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Ser vs Estar sentence

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 16, 2014, 12:18 PM
Hiperbólico's Avatar
Hiperbólico Hiperbólico is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 63
Native Language: American English
Hiperbólico is on a distinguished road
Ser vs Estar sentence

¡Hola! I was doing an online activity for class. A sentence was given, and I had to fill in the blank with the appropriate conjugation in simple present. Here's one I don't understand.

La fiesta de cumpleaños ____________ en la casa de Marta.

I thought it should be está, since it seems to concern location which is always estar. According to the activity, it needs es for ser, but I don't see how.

¿Alguién puede explicar esto?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old February 16, 2014, 01:33 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,100
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Unless there is someone with a better explanation for this, I think it's because a party is not a person, an object or an animal that can be moved from one place to another and still be what it originally was. It is rather an activity or a situation that mostly depends on the place where it can be held.
So you think in terms of the identity of the thing, which in this case is an activity, so we use the verb "ser".

- ¿Dónde es la reunión?
- La junta será en la oficina del jefe.
- El baile de graduación va a ser en el gimnasio de la escuela.
- El partido es en el Estadio Azteca.
- ¿Sabes dónde fue el último concierto de Madonna?
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 16, 2014, 03:16 PM
wrholt's Avatar
wrholt wrholt is offline
Sapphire
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,405
Native Language: US English
wrholt is on a distinguished road
The location of events is always with ser; the location of everything else is always with estar.

El concierto es en el auditorio = the concert (performance = event) is in the auditorium.
El concierto está en la mesa = the concerto (musical score = non-event) is on the table.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 18, 2014, 04:09 PM
Hiperbólico's Avatar
Hiperbólico Hiperbólico is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 63
Native Language: American English
Hiperbólico is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
Unless there is someone with a better explanation for this, I think it's because a party is not a person, an object or an animal that can be moved from one place to another and still be what it originally was. It is rather an activity or a situation that mostly depends on the place where it can be held.
Makes sense to me, and it also ties into what wrholt said i.e. the nature of them being events. Thanks, both of you especially for the examples. They really help.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
estar, ser, ser vs estar

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ser Estar jellybabe Grammar 2 November 07, 2013 08:44 PM
Estar/ser cmon Practice & Homework 4 February 28, 2009 12:58 PM
Ser o estar bartalmo Introductions 8 February 22, 2009 12:38 AM
Ser, Estar, AR, ER, IR DaveG Grammar 22 January 30, 2009 08:59 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:20 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X