Meaning & usagedifficulty 4
ser vs estar
SentenceBoth translate as 'to be'. Ser marks identity, origin, profession, time, and inherent properties. Estar marks location, temporary states, and progressive aspect. Events use ser ('el concierto es en el teatro') even though they happen at a location.
Examples
Ella ___ médica.
→ es
Permanent identity → ser
Ella ___ cansada.
→ está
Temporary state → estar
El concierto ___ en el teatro.
→ es
Events use ser, not estar
Words in this rule
| Word | English |
|---|---|
| estar | be |
| ser | be |
Practice Spanish in context
Write AI sentences that force each case of ser vs estar using your Easy vocab — or read articles where we underline the words that trigger each rule.