ser and estar with adjectives
With adjectives you can use both ser and estar.
The verb ser defines an object. This definition does not have to be constant, but it allows us to recognize the object among others. If we hear
Juan es alto = Juan is tall
we already know what Juan is like.
Ángel es muy simpático = Angel is very nice
This phrase defines Angel. We know he has a good character. Of course he can have a bad day, be angry, etc. But overall he is nice.
The verb estar always transmits the result of an action:
Juan está muy alto = Juan has grown up and now he is taller
Estoy muy enfadada contigo = You have done something wrong and that's why I got angry
¡Estás muy delgada! = You have changed, now you look very thin
Compare:
Eres muy guapa = Thanks to your genes, you are beautiful
Estás muy guapa = You have changed (you have fixed yourself, you have put on beautiful clothes) and now you look beautiful
In these cases estar functions like parecer:
Mi madre ya no es joven, pero está muy joven = Mi madre parece muy joven
In many grammars people say that ser is used with properties of long duration, and estar, with those of short duration. This rule doesn't work:
Estás vivo = You are alive. Being alive does not last short!
Este proyecto es de corta duración, es temporal = This project is short-term, it is temporary. Although it is short-term, we use the verb ser, because this characteristic defines our project
With emotions, which are always the result of an action, we must use estar, even if these emotions are constant:
CORRECTO: Mi hermana siempre está de buen humor = My sister is always in a good mood
INCORRECTO: Mi hermana siempre *
esde buen humor
adjetivos que cambian de sentido con ser y estar
Some adjectives change their meaning with ser and estar:
| con ser | con estar | |
| bueno | good | healthy, delicious, sexually attractive |
| malo | bad | ill, spoiled, tasteless |
| rico | rich | delicious |
| verde | green | immature |
| listo | smart | ready to do smth. |
| atento | helpful, who cares of others | attentive, who listens carefully |
| claro | liminous, bright | clear, evident |
ser y estar con participios
Estar with participles means a state of things:
La cena está preparada = The dinner is ready
Ser with participles means the same as English passive voice:
Los ladrones fueron detenidos ayer = The robbers were arrested yesterday
However, unlike in English, this type of passive voice is rarely used in Spanish, only in formal speech.