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? |