Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish
Hi, I hust began learning Spanish from the web as a total beginner, and I am already stuck with this quesion. Which verb do I use when, if they both mean To Be? How can I AM be both SOY and ESTOY?
Also, please let me know if you have some suggestions for an effective Spanish Learning program online (preferably free).
Thank, all. 
Filed under: Spanish Language
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Spanish distinguishes between permanent and temporary characteristics. As a general rule, "ser" means permanent things and "estar" means temporary things.
So if you ask someone "Como esta?" you mean "how are you (today or right now)?" But if you ask "Como es?" you mean "What are you like?"
It’s confusing at first but you get used to it.
Edited: I think the most confusing cases are ones where both "ser" or "estar" could be used, and they make two different sentences. But in many cases, only one or the other is proper. There are a bunch of good online lessons that address all the different cases. Like here:
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/serest1.htm
You’ll notice there are four complete "ser vs. estar" lessons. There’s a lot to cover.
I agree with Randy,
I am alone: estoy solo
I am lonely: soy solitario
SER = personality, characteristics, where you are from (soy de nueva york)
ESTAR = how u feel, where you are, how are you
COMO ESTAS?
bien gracias
but in an hour u can be angry
Ser = Soy rubia. I am ligt skinned.
What the have told you is correct. But also I would like to say another example. Present continuos is formed with be+gerund in English, but in spanish with estar+gerund.
I am eating=Estoy comiendo
Another example: adjetives ending in -ed are translated using Estar, and ending in -ing using Ser
I’m bored=estoy aburrido (because i’m doing nothing)
I’m boring=soy aburrido (because people dont laught when i tell jokes)
This is how I learned it:
Estar:
Health
Emotions/Feelings
Location
Preposition/Participle
Surprise quality/Unusual description
Ser:
Description
Occupation/Origin/Ownership
Identification/Relationship
Time & Date
So the uses of estar would spell out helps and the uses of ser would spell out do it.
*SER and ESTAR are two different verbs with very similar meanings.
Ser is usually used when we want to talk about permanent things and estar when we talk about a place or when something is temporary and can change.
-Yo soy español. Estoy en Francia.
– I am Spanish. I am in France.
– Mi coche es un Ford. Está en el garaje.
– My car is a Ford. It is in the garage.