The Difference Between Ser & Estar

At first, Spanish may seem like a difficult language to learn for beginner-level language students due to all the grammar rules. Perhaps the most confusing of all the rules, is the distinction between the verbs ser and estar. The two main reasons why language students experience such frustration when trying to learn this rule are that a) there are so many exceptions and b) ser and estar and such commonly occurring verbs in everyday speech that it is impossible to avoid using them. Both Spanish verbs mean “to be” and, generally speaking, ser is used to describe a situation that is permanent while estar is used to imply transience. Below are some examples that should help erase some of the confusion surrounding this particular grammar rule:

•    Pablo es desesperado (Pablo is a desperate person)
•    Pablo está desesperado (Pablo is desperate at this specific moment time)

Examples of when to use the verb ser …

1.    NATIONALITY: Martin es Alemán
2.    ORIGIN: Las naranjas son de Cordoba
3.    IDENTITY: Este es Carlos
4.    DESCRIBING A PERSON OR A THING: La chaqueta es de color azul
5.    MATERIAL: El reloj es de oro
6.    POSSESSION: Esa casa es de Juan
7.    PROFESSION: Alberto es abogado
8.    DATE: Hoy es jueves
9.    TIME: Son las seis y media
10.  PRICE: ¿Cuanto es eso?
11.  PLACE: La conferencia es en el aula magna
12.  EXPRESSING QUANTITY: Esta habitación es demasiada pequeña

Examples of when to use the verb estar …

1.    EXPRESSING PHYSICAL CONDITION: La puerta está rota
2.    TEMPORARY WORK: Raúl está de camarero en un restaurante mientras termina de estudiar
3.    LOCATION: El libro está sobre la mesa
4.    EVALUATING SOMETHING: Está claro que no tienes razón
5.    EXPRESSING CURRENT ACTIONS: Pilar está hablando por teléfono
6.    DESCRIBING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING: Laura está muy alegre hoy

According to Wikilengua, the meaning of some words changes depending on whether they are paired with ser or estar …