Ask a Question

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


When to use the verb "Ser" and when to use "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
  #91  
Old October 21, 2013, 05:35 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,353
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liquinn3 View Post
Estoy cansando.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #92  
Old October 21, 2013, 06:08 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Number 3 is the best option out of the three you gave, but the very best option is to use the impersonal 'se' construct. Next best would be to use the 'pasiva refleja' construct.
So, "se me engañó"? And what would be the "pasiva refleja" option?
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #93  
Old October 21, 2013, 06:47 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,353
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
The 'pasiva refleja' can be used as a better choice for the passive voice.
The verb in question needs to take a direct object in order to use this construct.

Examples of the 'pasiva refleja', using a verb that takes a direct object.
Se venden casas.
Se vende leche.

The subject-patient drives whether the verb is in the plural or the singular third person, in this construct.

Last edited by Rusty; October 21, 2013 at 06:54 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #94  
Old April 15, 2014, 11:58 PM
cb4 cb4 is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 42
cb4 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
Both soy casado and estoy casado are correct. There is a slight nuance in the meaning though:

Estoy casado = I am married.
Soy casado = I am a married man.

Estoy refers to your state of being married, and soy to your quality of being married.
So I guess if you say "estoy casados" to your wife you better be prepared to get beat.
Reply With Quote
  #95  
Old April 16, 2014, 07:26 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,093
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
No, there is nothing intrinsically offensive in any of the sentences; it's just the way people talk. The tone and the intention are something else.

By the way, "casados" is a plural form, so the sentence should be "estoy casado", or "estamos casados".
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #96  
Old April 27, 2014, 03:29 PM
Ivy2937 Ivy2937 is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Medellín
Posts: 42
Native Language: Español
Ivy2937 is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
@Lou Ann: David is right about "ser/estar casado". In Mexico is equally frequent to say one or the other.

--¿Ya conociste al nuevo gerente? (Have you met the new manager?)
--Sí, ¿sabes si es casado? / ¿crees que esté casado? (Yes, do you know/believe he's married?)


As for "estar muerto", "estar" is the right choice most of the times.
"Ser muerto" would mean some kind of zombie or so.

El médico no pudo hacer nada por Juan. Está muerto.
The doctor couldn't do anything for Juan. He's dead.


Someone joking in a graveyard:
¡Soy un muerto que sale de su tumba! ¡BU!
I'm a deadman coming out of his grave! BOO!
Estar muerto is a state situation

also there are some locutions with ser as : El es hombre muerto si se enfrenta a la mafia local.
Reply With Quote
  #97  
Old April 27, 2014, 03:42 PM
Ivy2937 Ivy2937 is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Medellín
Posts: 42
Native Language: Español
Ivy2937 is an unknown quantity at this point
EStá buena in Colombia is a woman very sexy and an attractive body
Reply With Quote
  #98  
Old June 08, 2014, 08:18 PM
Falda Verde Falda Verde is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 33
Falda Verde is on a distinguished road
Sad (triste) is a temporary condition, so I would use estar, but what if I am talking about a book's ending? Would I use ser since the ending doesn't change?
Reply With Quote
  #99  
Old June 08, 2014, 10:34 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,353
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by Falda Verde View Post
Sad (triste) is a temporary condition, so I would use estar, but what if I am talking about a book's ending? Would I use ser since the ending doesn't change?
'Sad' can be a characteristic of a person (normally sad) or a condition/state (not always so). For the former, you'd use 'ser triste'; for the latter, 'estar triste'. The original post in the thread doesn't mention 'temporary'. Think more in terms of 'characteristic' or 'state'.
The story written in a book can be 'sad', 'uplifting', 'scary', etc. All are used to describe or define the story at a particular moment. Since these are definitive labels, the verb to use is 'ser'. 'Es triste la parte cuando muere uno de los hijos.'

When we talk about a happy ending or a sad ending in a book, it's common to use 'tener un final feliz' or 'tener un final triste'. But you may also say, "El final del libro es triste." That's a defining characteristic.

Last edited by Rusty; June 08, 2014 at 11:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #100  
Old June 11, 2014, 06:38 PM
Falda Verde Falda Verde is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 33
Falda Verde is on a distinguished road
How about with a situation where you want to say, "I want to be entertained by this book." Would that use ser: "Quiero ser entretenido por este libro."
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
estar, ser, ser vs estar, vocab comparison, vs

 

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
"We have never spoken/conversed before." vswezie Grammar 7 February 07, 2007 12:14 PM
Help with the verb "REIR" bigjohn Vocabulary 6 February 02, 2007 12:03 PM
Best way to say "pop" Nix Vocabulary 6 May 19, 2006 12:31 PM
¿Cómo se dice "As soon as possible"? vswezie Practice & Homework 5 May 19, 2006 10:05 AM
Ideas on "old school" anthony Vocabulary 1 May 16, 2006 11:02 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:14 PM.

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

X