Es vs. está

[sbreman]

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

[Elaina]

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.

;)

[wrholt]

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."

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@sbreman: You can also read this forum thread (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=260). :)

[Rusty]

I think the link that AdA included in her post will answer all your questions.

[JPablo]

And you can always remember the Shakespearean quotation:

"Ser o no estar... estar o no ser... esa es la cuestión..." :rolleyes:

(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... :)

[sbreman]

Gracias a todo.

Yo comprendo.