Irregular Spanish Verbs:
Estar - (to be)
After 'ser', 'estar' is probably the second most commonly used verb in Spanish, and as you may already be aware it also means 'to be' when translated directly into English.
However, this literal translation into English, does not mean that 'estar' and 'ser' are exactly the same and therefore either verb can be used in any sentence. This is certainly not the case as both verbs have their distinctive uses.
Both 'ser' and 'estar' cause a few major headaches to students of the Spanish language right from the start of their studies, as not only do both verb's varying irregular conjugations cause a problem but also deciding which of the two verbs should be used and this is decided purely by the context in which the verb 'to be' is used.
First of all we will conjugate the verb 'estar' in the present tense only.
(For a complete printable conjugation sheet, click on the image above)
| Yo estoy |
I am |
| Tú estás |
You are (familiar)(sing.) |
| Él está |
He is |
| Ella está |
She is |
| Nosotros estamos |
We are |
| Vosotros estáis |
You are (polite)(plur.) |
| Ellos están |
They are |
Note: Many students become confused with the issue of whether or not they should use the personal prefix; yo, tú, es...etc when writing or speaking in Spanish. The answer to this will depend upon your location and your course material. In European Spanish these prefixes (pronouns) are normally dropped and only used when ambiguity needs to be avoided; whereas in Latin American Spanish the use of the pronouns is much more widely used.
Estar is used to explain the following:
1. Temporary state or condition: The use of estar when referring to temporary states or conditions often causes the most issues with students who are confused sometimes between what is a temporary and what is a permanent state?
| Él coche está roto |
The car is broken |
| Las mujeres son felices |
The women are happy |
In the example above, 'the car is broken' refers to a temporary state because the car would normally be working, and this is the same with sentence 'the women are happy'.
2. Location: When describing the location of an object the verb 'estar' is used. However, estar should not be used when describing the location of an event, for this 'ser' must be used. (For more information visit 'ser')
| Los libros están en la mesa |
The books are on the table |
| La estación está cerca. |
The station is near |
3. As an auxiliary verb: Estar is used in the present continuous tense as an auxilliary verb with the gerund (participle).
Note: The present continuous tense is a tense that is used to describe an action that is taking place as it is being spoken about, or described.
| Yo estoy leyendo |
I am reading |
| Nosotros estámos comiendo |
We are eating |
4. Idiomatic expressions: Estar is used in certain idiomatic expressions that express a condition or state:
| Estar de vacaciones |
To be on vacation |
| Estar enfermo |
To be sick |
For more information about the newest and best Spanish Verb Conjugator guaranteed to quickly improve your mastery of Spanish verbs, click here.
