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Four key verbs: ser, estar, tener and ir
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Ser, estar, tener and ir are the most useful verbs in Spanish. They are irregular, so you learn them by heart, and they appear in every paper.
The four verbs
Ser or estar?
ser for what someone or something is: who they are, what they are like, where they are from, the time.
Mi hermano es alto y simpático. Son las dos.
estar for where something is and how someone feels now.
El gato está en la cama. Estoy cansado / cansada. Estamos contentos.
Mi hermano es alto y simpático. Son las dos.
estar for where something is and how someone feels now.
El gato está en la cama. Estoy cansado / cansada. Estamos contentos.
Tener and ir in action
tener for age: Tengo quince años. = I am fifteen (I have fifteen years).
tener que + infinitive = to have to: Tengo que ir. = I have to go.
ir a + a place: a + el = al: Voy al cine. Vamos a la playa.
tener que + infinitive = to have to: Tengo que ir. = I have to go.
ir a + a place: a + el = al: Voy al cine. Vamos a la playa.
Translate: We are going to the beach because we are happy.
- We are going: vamos (ir, nosotros).
- To the beach: a la playa.
- We are happy (a feeling now): estamos contentos.
Answer: Vamos a la playa porque estamos contentos.
Learn ser, estar, tener and ir by heart. Ser for what someone is like, origin and time; estar for location and feelings now. Tener for age (tengo quince años). Ir a + place, with a + el = al.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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