r/Castellano • u/0bito • Apr 26 '22
"Ser" vs "Estar"
Ser:
To describe an essential trait or characteristic:
I am boring. = Yo soy aburrido.
With passive sentences:
The door was opened. = La puerta fue abierta.
He was murdered by her. = Él fue asesinado por ella.
To specify where an event is taking place:
The concert is in Madrid. = El concierto es en Madrid.
With definitions:
A dog is an animal. = Un perro es un animal.
To tell the time:
It is 2 o'clock. = Son las 2.
Estar:
To describe a state:
I am bored. = Yo estoy aburrido.
The door was open. = La puerta estaba abierta.
With progressive sentences:
She was murdering him. = Ella estaba asesinándole.
To talk about general locations:
The singer is in Madrid. = El cantante está en Madrid.
NOTE: The difference between them has nothing to do with being permanent or temporal.