When to use the verb "Ser" and when to use "Estar"

[Sir Senor]

Be careful. Some women may find that offensive.

Really?

Also, am I right in think that 'ser' is used to describe a 2nd or 3rd party and 'soy' is for oneself?

[Rusty]

'Ser' is the infinitive. 'Soy' is the first person in the present indicative tense. There are second- and third-person forms, as well. Each person has a singular and a plural form. So, in the present indicative tense, there are six different conjugations of 'ser'.
To wit:

Present Indicative Tense

{||}Singular Person | | Plural Person |
{|}1st - (yo) | soy | (nosotros, -as) | somos
{|}2nd - (tú) | eres | (vosotros, -as) | sois
{|}3rd - él | es | ellos | son
{|}3rd - ella | es | ellas | son
{|}3rd - usted | es | ustedes | son


The personal pronouns in parentheses are optional because the corresponding conjugation is unique. The third-person personal pronouns are needed to clarify which individual is being referenced/addressed.

The table above is just for the present indicative tense. There are fourteen other conjugation charts for 'ser'. Have a look at a verb conjugation chart here (http://www.tomisimo.org/conjugate/ser).

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Jessica está muy buena ☺☺☺ Hehehehe

Be careful. Some women may find that offensive.

Really?

Sometimes the use of "ser" or "estar" changes the meaning of a sentence.
Saying "Jessica está muy buena" means that she is hot (having a sexual connotation). But if you say "Jessica es muy buena", you mean she's a good person.

[Sir Senor]

'Ser' is the infinitive. 'Soy' is the first person in the present indicative tense. There are second- and third-person forms, as well. Each person has a singular and a plural form. So, in the present indicative tense, there are six different conjugations of 'ser'.
To wit:

Present Indicative Tense

{||}Singular Person | | Plural Person |
{|}1st - (yo) | soy | (nosotros, -as) | somos
{|}2nd - (tú) | eres | (vosotros, -as) | sois
{|}3rd - él | es | ellos | son
{|}3rd - ella | es | ellas | son
{|}3rd - usted | es | ustedes | son


The personal pronouns in parentheses are optional because the corresponding conjugation is unique. The third-person personal pronouns are needed to clarify which individual is being referenced/addressed.

The table above is just for the present indicative tense. There are fourteen other conjugation charts for 'ser'. Have a look at a verb conjugation chart here (http://www.tomisimo.org/conjugate/ser).

I found that slightly confusing at first. I think I understand the basic gist of that now. :cool:

Sometimes the use of "ser" or "estar" changes the meaning of a sentence.
Saying "Jessica está muy buena" means that she is hot (having a sexual connotation). But if you say "Jessica es muy buena", you mean she's a good person.

That rings a bell, I think I've heard that before actually. Thanks for explaning :)

[sigifredo]

a very usefull summary I guess :)
thanks.

[mariposa0301]

Hola a todos :)

?Alguien sabe si se puede poner "ser" en vez de "estar" en esta frase:

Creo que la pelicula ha estado un poco aburrida a ratos, pero en general ha estado muy bien.

?Podemos decir: Creo que la pelicula ha sido aburrida?
?Cual es la diferencia?

Perdón por la falta de acentos ;)

[pacomartin123]

I was a little confused by the translation of "I was cheated".

Because this sounds like a temporary state, my first guess was to use "estar", but I was told to use "ser".

1)Estuve engañado
2)Fuí engañado
3)Me engañaron

Which is the preferred way to say "I was cheated"? Does (1) make any sense at all?

[chileno]

1)Estuve engañado todos estos años = I was blind all these years

2)Fuí engañado = I was cheated.

3)Me engañaron = They cheated me

Would that help?

[Rusty]

I was a little confused by the translation of "I was cheated".

Because this sounds like a temporary state, my first guess was to use "estar", but I was told to use "ser".

1)Estuve engañado
2)Fuí engañado
3)Me engañaron

Which is the preferred way to say "I was cheated"? Does (1) make any sense at all?This isn't a question about temporary or permanent, which is not a good determiner anyway. You were told to use 'ser' because it is used to directly translate the passive voice into Spanish.
The passive voice is used a lot in English, but not as much in Spanish.

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.

[Liquinn3]

This isn't a question about temporary or permanent, which is not a good determiner anyway. You were told to use 'ser' because it is used to directly translate the passive voice into Spanish.
The passive voice is used a lot in English, but not as much in Spanish.

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.
I agree with Rusty. Ser is more to do with the person, such as:
Soy hombre.
Soy inteligente.

Etc etc.

I think of 'Estar' as being to how I'm feeling or what I'm doing in the moment, por ejemplo.

Estoy bien.
Estoy de vacaciones.
Estoy cansando.
Estoy feliz.

[Rusty]

Estoy cansando. :) ;)

[laepelba]

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?

[Rusty]

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.

[cb4]

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.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

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".

[Ivy2937]

@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.

[Ivy2937]

EStá buena in Colombia is a woman very sexy and an attractive body

[Falda Verde]

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?

[Rusty]

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.

[Falda Verde]

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."