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Es vs. estáAsk about definitions or translations for Spanish or English words. |
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#1
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Es vs. está
I am trying to determine when to us es and when está. I must be missing something very basic, but I can not find it.
Sid |
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#2
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Good Morning Sid,
My rule of thumb is..... es.......is always that way está....could be a temporary condition El auto es negro. El auto está chocado. El hombre es rubio. El hombre está gordo. I am no authority in grammar but I have my own rules as to when to use what. Rusty is excellent in this....he will respond soon to your query.
__________________
Elaina All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney |
#3
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Elaina is right: the most basic difference between them is:
(a) 'es (ser)' defines what something is: I'm a man, I'm from the US, I'm a computer programmer, I'm boring, I'm fat/slim, I'm single/unmarried, I'm married, I'm divorced. (b) 'está (estar)' describes the current state or condition of something: I'm tired, I'm bored, I'm at home/work/the store, I'm fat/slim, I'm married, I'm divorced. Notice that some things I wrote are the same for both verbs (I'm fat/thin, I'm married, I'm divorced). The choice of 'ser' or 'estar' adds a nuance that we tend to ignore in English, unless we use more words to make it clear. Sometimes the choice is significant: "I'm fat/thin" could be "soy gordo/delgado" (because that's how I am) or it could be "estoy gordo/delgado" (because I've gained weight or lost weight). Sometimes one can use either verb equally well, although the underlying sentiment could be slightly different: "Estoy casado/divorciado/viudo." = "I'm married/divorced/widowed." "Soy casado/divorciado/viudo." = "I'm a married man/divorced man/widower." |
#4
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@sbreman: You can also read this forum thread.
__________________
♪ ♫ ♪ Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays... ♪ ♫ ♪ |
#5
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I think the link that AdA included in her post will answer all your questions.
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#6
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And you can always remember the Shakespearean quotation:
"Ser o no estar... estar o no ser... esa es la cuestión..." (Sorry, don't pay much attention to my remarks from the peanut gallery...) Elaina rule of thumb is a good first approach... and then follow the link...
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie. "An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you." |
#7
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Thanks
Gracias a todo.
Yo comprendo. |
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