© Lingolex - home page http://lingolex.com/spanish.htm
©
Lingolex - home page http://lingolex.com/spanish.htm
When "ser" is obligatory
|
Below are the instances when we have to use "ser" |
 |
with an adjective to express a permanent or inherent quality | |
| El azúcar es dulce |
sugar is sweet |
|
| mi padre es calvo | my father is bald | |
| mis hermanas son altas | my sisters are tall | |
|
for occupations and nationality | |
| Son italianos |
they are Italian |
|
| Pablo es español | Pablo is Spanish | |
| Es profesor | She is a teacher | |
|
with nouns or pronouns | |
| es un coche |
it is a car |
|
| son niñas | they are girls | |
| somos nosotros | it's us | |
| ¿Eres John? | Are you John? | |
|
with possessions | |
| es mio |
it is mine |
|
| son de Pedro | they are Pedro's | |
| este es mi libro | this is my book | |
|
with time, dates and numbers | |
| son las seis |
it is 6 o'clock |
|
| dos y tres son cinco | two and three are five | |
| Es el 21 de diciembre | it is 21st December | |
| la temperatura es de 20 grados | it is 20 degrees | |
|
with events | |
|
when there is an event or an occasion such as a party we use "ser" even though we may seem to be indicating position which is usually with "estar" |
||
| La fiesta es en casa de Susana | The party is in Susana's house | |
|
with passive constructions | |
|
Although it is not as common as in English there is a Spanish equivalent of the English passive. |
||
| fue construido en 1800 | it was built in 1800 | |
| el cuadro fue robado | The picture was stolen | |
|
when speaking about what something is made of | |
| esos zapatos son de plástico | those shoes are (made of) plastic | |
| es de oro | it's made of gold | |
|
with "how much / many?" | |
| ¿cuánto es? | How much is it? (asking about the price) | |
| ¿cuántos son? | How many are there? | |