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SER vs ESTAR

Two verbs, one English word: “to be”. Use the acronyms DOCTOR and PLACE to choose the right one. Level A1.

1. The explanation

SER talks about who or what something is (identity, permanent). ESTAR talks about where or how something is (location, changing states).

SER = DOCTOR

Description: physical features Ella es alta.
Occupation: jobs Soy profesor.
Characteristic: personality Tú eres simpático.
Time: day, date, hour Son las tres.
Origin: nationality, where from Somos de Perú.
Relationship: family, friends Pablo es mi amigo.

ESTAR = PLACE

Position: where something sits El gato está debajo de la silla.
Location: where a place or person is Estoy en la escuela.
Action: -ing actions Estamos comiendo.
Condition: temporary state La sopa está fría.
Emotion: feelings Estoy feliz.

Pronoun	SER	ESTAR
yo (I)	soy	estoy
tú (you)	eres	estás
él / ella / usted	es	está
nosotros (we)	somos	estamos
vosotros (you all)	sois	estáis
ellos / ellas / ustedes	son	están

Quick tip: Ask yourself, “Is this a DOCTOR reason or a PLACE reason?” A place always uses ESTAR, even a permanent one (Madrid está en España).

2. Now practise!

There are 5 activities with 4 questions each (20 questions). Click an answer to see straight away if it is correct. Each correct answer is +1 point. Add up your points at the end!

Activity 1 · SER or ESTAR?

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. Mi madre ___ doctora.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Occupation → SER (O in DOCTOR).

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Occupation → SER (O in DOCTOR).

2. Madrid ___ en España.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: está. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Places always use estar.

está

✔ Correct! +1 point. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Places always use estar.

3. Nosotros ___ contentos hoy.

somos

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: estamos. Emotion → ESTAR (E in PLACE).

estamos

✔ Correct! +1 point. Emotion → ESTAR (E in PLACE).

4. Yo ___ de México.

soy

✔ Correct! +1 point. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR).

estoy

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: soy. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR).

Activity 2 · Choose the right form

Pick the correct verb form from three options.

1. Ella ___ mi hermana.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Relationship → SER (R in DOCTOR). Ella = es.

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Relationship → SER (R in DOCTOR). Ella = es.

soy

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Relationship → SER (R in DOCTOR). Ella = es.

2. Tú ___ en casa.

eres

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: estás. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Tú = estás.

estás

✔ Correct! +1 point. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Tú = estás.

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: estás. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Tú = estás.

3. Ustedes ___ leyendo.

son

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: están. Action (-ing) → ESTAR (A in PLACE). Ustedes = están.

están

✔ Correct! +1 point. Action (-ing) → ESTAR (A in PLACE). Ustedes = están.

estamos

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: están. Action (-ing) → ESTAR (A in PLACE). Ustedes = están.

4. Nosotros ___ de Colombia.

somos

✔ Correct! +1 point. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Nosotros = somos.

estamos

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: somos. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Nosotros = somos.

son

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: somos. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Nosotros = somos.

Activity 3 · Complete the conversation

Choose the verb that completes each mini-dialogue.

1. — ¿Cómo ___ tú? — Estoy bien, gracias.

eres

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: estás. Asking how someone feels → ESTAR (C in PLACE: condition). Tú = estás.

estás

✔ Correct! +1 point. Asking how someone feels → ESTAR (C in PLACE: condition). Tú = estás.

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: estás. Asking how someone feels → ESTAR (C in PLACE: condition). Tú = estás.

2. — ¿De dónde ___ usted? — Soy de Alemania.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Usted = es.

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Usted = es.

son

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR). Usted = es.

3. — ¿Dónde ___ el baño? — A la derecha.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: está. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Places and things use estar to say where they are.

está

✔ Correct! +1 point. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Places and things use estar to say where they are.

son

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: está. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE). Places and things use estar to say where they are.

4. — ¿Qué hora ___? — Son las dos.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Time → SER (T in DOCTOR). We always say “¿Qué hora es?”.

está

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Time → SER (T in DOCTOR). We always say “¿Qué hora es?”.

estás

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: es. Time → SER (T in DOCTOR). We always say “¿Qué hora es?”.

Activity 4 · Find the mistake

Only one sentence is correct. Click it.

1. Which sentence is correct?

Mi padre es cansado.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Mi padre está cansado.. Condition → ESTAR. Being tired is a temporary state.

Mi padre está cansado.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Condition → ESTAR. Being tired is a temporary state.

2. Which sentence is correct?

Soy de Italia.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR).

Estoy de Italia.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Soy de Italia.. Origin → SER (O in DOCTOR).

3. Which sentence is correct?

Hoy está martes.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Hoy es martes.. Time → SER (T in DOCTOR).

Hoy es martes.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Time → SER (T in DOCTOR).

4. Which sentence is correct?

El banco es en la calle Sol.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: El banco está en la calle Sol.. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE).

El banco está en la calle Sol.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Location → ESTAR (L in PLACE).

Activity 5 · English to Spanish

Choose the correct Spanish translation.

1. I am a teacher.

Soy profesor.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Occupation → SER (O in DOCTOR).

Estoy profesor.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Soy profesor.. Occupation → SER (O in DOCTOR).

2. We are eating.

Somos comiendo.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Estamos comiendo.. Action (-ing) → ESTAR (A in PLACE).

Estamos comiendo.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Action (-ing) → ESTAR (A in PLACE).

3. They are my cousins.

Ellos son mis primos.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Relationship → SER (R in DOCTOR).

Ellos están mis primos.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Ellos son mis primos.. Relationship → SER (R in DOCTOR).

4. I am sad today.

Soy triste hoy.

✘ Not quite. The correct answer is: Estoy triste hoy.. Emotion → ESTAR (E in PLACE).

Estoy triste hoy.

✔ Correct! +1 point. Emotion → ESTAR (E in PLACE).

3. Your score

Add up your ✔ points (maximum 20) and click your range:

16 – 20 points

Excellent! You really understand SER and ESTAR.

11 – 15 points

Good job! Read the DOCTOR and PLACE rules again and try once more.

0 – 10 points

Keep practising! Review the explanation and try the activities again.