When to Use Ser and Estar in Spanish [How to Choose]

Learn how and when to use the verbs Ser and Estar in Spanish with May from Spanish and Go. Knowing when to use Ser vs Estar is a common issue for Spanish beginners, but you'll learn some important general rules in this video to help you know when to use them.

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[julialittle]

Hola, May - soy una maestra de español de los principiantes y nunca sabía de sus videos hasta este año. Cuanto me alegro que los encontre p/q Uds. son lindos y sus explicaciones son faciles. Espero que nunca paren sus videos importantes.

[ambrosia]

This was so helpful! Thank you - as many have mentioned, I could watch your practical videos all day.

[kolokolkvass]

This was awesome, and I love your dress. (Using my dad's account)

[TimXMan]

Very awesome and straight to the point video

[shakitashontajones]

I can watch your page all day... It's real life converstion and respones.

[veerosario]

Why Am I watching this video If the Spanish it’s my first language?

[jhonyermo]

EXCELLENTE. Jim and May have a BIG FAN. Thank you both. Maravilloso ! BTW, ustedes tan lovely couple. !

[dconfused]

TY ER GRACIAS. While learning Spanish I have to ask myself do I answer in English or Spanish? Lol I've frozen a few times coz I've got Spanish on my mind.

[abdallahmedawie]

¡Hola guapa May!
¿Qué tal? ¡Espero que estés bien!
Ya que vive en Puerto Rico, ¿se ha recuperado después del tornado? Quiero visitarlo solo para practicar español con los nativos de allí. ¿Alguna recomendación o sugerencia?

[itstimetogo]

Hi May! We love your videos...super helpful. A quick grammar question...when traveling in Mexico (we leave Oct.30th) would you clarify the following: Should we use Entender or Comprender? Should we use Beber or Tomar? Should we use Tu or Usted? Thanks so much and keep up the great work.

[muhmaralonto]

Q1. When do you use Estoy, Yo and Mi?
Q2. How do you say if you are referring to a group of combined boys and girls? The only thing I know is Ellos (boys) and Ellas (girls). What about if ot's combined?

[cbsteffen]

In Spanish, “ser” means “to be” in any sedentary sense while “estar” means “to be” as what grammatically involves standing. You just noted that “ser” is used for whatever is hard or impossible to change. When someone or something is sitting, it takes more effort for the person or thing to move or be moved than it does when he/she/it is standing. As of what you noted about “estar” (that the verb is used for what changes more frequently but also refers to an unexpected result which was what you didn’t note), I imagine that anything can fluctuate for a person while he or she stands.

[Countryboy]

la ciudad esta al lado de la montaña
What if it's both a location of something that doesn't change?

[s_garcia]

Hay varios videos en YouTube donde se explica el uso de estos dos verbos y en general todos ellos señalan que SER se utiliza para condiciones permanentes mientras que ESTAR se usa para condiciones temporales. Pero creo que es bastante más complicado que eso.
Por ejemplo, no existe nada más permanente que la muerte. Sin embargo siempre se dice "él ESTÁ muerto", y nunca "él ES muerto". Aunque también se dice siempre "el muerto ES él" y nunca "el muerto ESTÁ él".
Respecto al clima.... sí, se dice "ESTÁ nublado". Pero también se dice "ES un día nublado".
Hablando de la temperatura.... "mi café ESTÁ frío" es, por supuesto, correcto. Pero por otro lado decimos "el frappuccino ES una bebida fría".
Sí.... me imagino las de Caín que deben pasan los hablantes extranjeros para usar estos dos verbos mientras aprenden español.

[miketopper]

Gracias por el video sobre ser y estar. Entiendo como usar ser y estar en el tenso de verbo presente. Pero, estoy un poco confundido, cuando uso el tenso pasado.Por ejemplo.... "The party was fun". The party is over, so it's temporary. The party was fun, that will always be true, so, is that permanent? So, is the translation, la fiesta fue divertido o la fiesta estuvo divertido ? Or is it era o estaba....? Puedes avisarme ?

[funsizedkadyn]

Why is there such a video when the ser and Estar rap is there?

[macizo]

Aqui empieza el desmadre "Karla es bien alta" pero es perfectamente valido "Karla esta bien alta" y de hecho foneticamente se escucha mejor la ultima xD

[shakitashontajones]

Grocery stores... how to ask questions... count money.

[lausenteternidad]

"We are going to use 'estar' to talk about things that are not permanent"
Él está muerto. (He is dead.)

[kyliejenner]

ohhhh i get it now! Is like essere and stare in italian. How fucking dumb am i not to get it earlier?! THE ANSWER WAS RIGHT BEFORE MY 🤦🏻‍♂️