Why use estar

Estar is usually used to describe where a person or thing is physically located. Although an event takes place at a physical location, when speaking about events occurring at a specific point in time , you should use ser.

If the meaning of the verb is to be held or to take place , make sure you use ser. In the first example, the speaker uses estar to indicate the location of the exam, where the exam being referred to is the physical collection of papers with questions on them.

In the second example, the speaker uses ser instead because the exam being referred to is the event where the students will take the physical exam.

We would use ser in this way most commonly with words that are events, such as una cita a date , una fiesta a party , or even un concierto a concert. In the first example, notice how the focus is on the actual action of the family cooking the soup:. Although ser is usually used for permanent and descriptive characteristics, use estar to describe how food tastes. In the example below, we use estar because we are referring to the particular churro that will only exist for that point in time in which it is in front of us before or just after we have eaten it:.

For example:. We hope that these tips will help you feel more confident when using ser or estar. The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to choose the right verb!

Want to learn more about ser and estar? Check out these articles! Learn Spanish. Sign in. Quick Tips for Understanding "Ser" and "Estar". The meeting took place in the main hall. La fiesta es en la casa de Estela. The concert will take place in the theater.

La boda es en la iglesia. The wedding will take place in the church. The seminar will take place at school. Use Ser to Express Time Spanish speakers use two forms of ser to talk about time.

What time is it? Es la una de la tarde. Son las tres y media. Son las cuatro en punto. Use Ser to Describe the Weather of a Place Use ser to describe the weather of a place as a permanent trait. Nicaragua es caliente. Nicaragua is known to be a hot place. Suecia es helado. Sweden is known to be a cold place. Different Uses of Estar In Spanish, estar is used to express health, mood, location, ongoing actions or opinion in terms of taste and appearance.

Use Estar to Express Health Spanish speakers use estar to express a temporary physical condition. Estoy bien. I am well. How are you? They are sick. Estamos sanos. We are healthy. Estoy mareado. I am dizzy. Use Estar to Express Mood Estar is used to express how a person feels at a specific moment. The men are very tired. Are you mad at me? She is happy.

The children are hungry. Use Estar for Locations To express where someone or something is located at a certain moment use estar. Where are you? Estoy en casa. I am home. They are in the restaurant. We are in the classroom. Carlos is in the car. Use Estar for Ongoing Actions The verb estar is always used to express continuous actions in Spanish. Estoy trabajando. I am working. Jessica is studying Spanish. Tere is working out.

The children are crying. You are being dramatic. Here, you are saying that Alicia is an intelligent person. Her intelligence is part of her identity. Using the verb estar here is still cause for you to blush — but the compliment is more specific to the moment. It sounds quite straightforward, right?

Have more Spanish grammar and tricky language concepts explained on Busuu — the app that makes learning a language easier for everyone. Learn a language for free. The fastest way to learn a new language: 9 top tips. Which language will you find easiest to learn? Busuu Blog. Languages Spanish. Why are these 2 Spanish verbs so challenging?