Verbo Español - SER

♪ music ♪

The Spanish verb "ser"

"Look out! There is a bird over there."

"Where is it?"

"There, you see it? It's a yellow bird."

The auxiliary verb can be expressed

in three different ways with the following

three verbs: ser, estar, hay

The verb "ser" is used to identify,

describe, and classify things and people

into categories.

It also expresses objective facts.

"This is my son Jorgito."

"Wow, he is such a beautiful baby."

Usually, the verb "ser" comes before nouns

For example, "Who is it?"

"It is me; I am the professor."

"Oh! What's this?"

"They are chocolates, but they are mine."

The ser + noun structure is used

to identify specific things or people.

For example, nationality, profession,

religion, political affiliation, or

family relationship.

"Luis is my uncle. He is a doctor and

he is Peruvian. He is Catholic but

he is liberal."

To describe a temporary activity,

use the structure estar de + noun.

"He is the doctor for a project."

You can also use ser to attribute

a quality to someone or something.

"Alberta is blonde and very attractive."

"Her brothers are happy people."

"This is an excellent hotel and

it is not too expensive."

You can use the following adjectives

with the verb ser:

happy, rich, responsible, guilty,

unhappy, poor, irresponsible, innocent.

Another structure is es + adjective,

followed by an infinitive or

a subordinate clause.

Some adjectives you could use are:

easy/difficult; certain; good/bad;

important; necessary; normal; possible or

impossible; improbable or probable;

useful or useless.

The es + adjective structure shows

that something is true or a fact.

For example, "It is not possible!"

"It is a fact that prices will rise."

"It is true. It is necessary to

read the newspaper."

With ser + preposition, you can describe

origin, type of material,

ownership, or affiliation.

"This bag is made of leather."

"Is it from Italy?"

"This is the boss's car."

With ser + para + preposition, you can

define something, describe its purpose,

or identify a recipient. For example,

"Is this for tomorrow?"

"Yes, the wine is for the party and

the flowers are for Angelica."

Use ser to specify the date, dates,

days of the week, time of day, or for

late; early/soon; for tomorrow/

the afternoon/the night; time for ______.

"What day is it today? Today is the

22nd of May."

"How frustrating! It's not Sunday yet."

"It's time to go to school."

"It's already very late."

Use ser for quantity, a result, or a total.

"There are five of us, then there are

five servings. I already know the result."

"How much is it in total?"

"They cost 15 euros."

Use ser for the location of an event.

"The concert is in the castle."

"It will be in the rococo room."

Use ser + participle for an action

completed in the past.

"Cuzco was founded by the Incas."

♪ music ♪

Thanks for your attention.