Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Ser or Estar

 

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 October 02, 2011, 03:27 PM
er610 er610 is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2
er610 is on a distinguished road
Ser or Estar

La silla.....roto. (Which verb ser or estar should I use and why?)

Last edited by Rusty; October 02, 2011 at 05:14 PM. Reason: moved suggestion to another thread
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old October 02, 2011, 05:11 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,370
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Welcome to the forums!

Have a look at this thread to see if it answers your question.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old October 03, 2011, 04:17 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,107
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Also, the noun and the adjective must agree. "Silla" is a feminine, so there is need for a feminine adjective.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old October 03, 2011, 05:00 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Davidísimo
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,664
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
Does it help if I say you normally use estar for changeable conditions and characteristics?
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old October 09, 2011, 04:00 PM
wafflestomp wafflestomp is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 350
Native Language: American English
wafflestomp is on a distinguished road
Can you fix the chair and change that broken condition (even if it isn't cost effective to do that) or is it broken forever regardless of what you do?

The way I was taught was originally all that health location temporary condition stuff, but one of my newer teachers simplified it. Just location and temporary condition for when you use estar. That's it. Everything else is ser, regardless. The desk is in the building -- el escritorio está en el edificio. Rachel is sick -- Rachel está enferma (hint, that feminine on enferma has to do with your chair thing)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old October 09, 2011, 05:14 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,370
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Your teacher's method seems a bit too simplistic.
You don't always use estar for location.

Where is the concert?
¿Dónde es el concierto?

An event always takes ser because it isn't an object with a location. That said, if the event is on foot (marching band), you could use estar to inquire about its present location.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old October 09, 2011, 06:57 PM
wafflestomp wafflestomp is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 350
Native Language: American English
wafflestomp is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Your teacher's method seems a bit too simplistic.
You don't always use estar for location.

Where is the concert?
¿Dónde es el concierto?

An event always takes ser because it isn't an object with a location. That said, if the event is on foot (marching band), you could use estar to inquire about its present location.
True. I actually knew that from this site when someone taught me a while ago here about dónde es la fiesta lol

But again American students are taught HLTC - health location temporary condition. So still the event is left out of there and you really have to figure that out on your own.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old October 10, 2011, 12:22 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,107
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Maybe something that should be taught specifically: when the subject has some quality or condition that is the result of an action, a transformation or a change, we use "estar":

·Los ladrones están presos.
·Mis plantas están marchitas.
·El coche está descompuesto.
·Nuestra mascota está muerta.
·Tu tobillo está fracturado.
·Sus ilusiones están deshechas.
·Esta casa está muy sucia.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
estar, ser, ser vs estar, vocab comparison

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

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 and estar again poli Grammar 3 January 25, 2011 03:06 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 11:17 PM.

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

X