Estar I
Introduction
It will be infinitely easier for you to understand this section if you are familiar with the subject pronouns, verb conjugation, and -ar verbs in the present tense.
In English, ser and estar are translated as “to be.” It is absolutely crucial that you realize, however, that the two do not actually mean the same thing. Ser is used for more permanent and lasting qualities, for definitions, and for telling time. Estar is used for temporary states, including location and emotion.
Conjugation
Estar is an irregular verb, so its conjugations are different from the typical -ar endings you have seen before.
Notice the accent marks — you need to remember them! There are other words spelled esta and estas without an accent, and they mean different things altogether.
Usage
Estar means “to be” in a more temporary way than ser. Its main uses are as follows.
Feelings and emotions
Estar is used to talk about how a person feels in a given moment.
Examples:
Julio está triste. (Julio is sad.)
Las vacas están contentas. (The cows are content.)
Yo estoy nervioso. (I am nervous.)
Temporary conditions
Estar is used to describe conditions and states that are changeable and not seen as lasting or permanent.
Exampes:
Él está aburrido. (He is bored.)
Nosotros estamos llenos. (We are full.)
Las chicas están de viaje. (The girls are on a trip.)
Location
Estar is used to tell where things are, even if they cannot move.
Examples:
El banco está en la cuidad. (The bank is in the city.)
El hombre está en el auto. (The man is in the car.)
Marta y María están en el aeropuerto. (Marta and María are in the airport.)
La casa está al lado del mercado. (The house is next to the market.)
Some people like to use this rhyme to remember the general uses for estar:
Next topics:
yo: estoy
tú: estás
él/ella/Ud.: está
nosotros/-as: estamos
ellos/ellas/Uds.: están
Emotions
Temporary conditions
Location
Quick reference:
"How you feel and where you are, that is when you use estar."
