Estar is one of the two Spanish verbs that mean "to be" (the other is ser). It is used to describe temporary states, conditions, emotions, and locations.
Estar is irregular in some tenses and uses specific rules for when to use it instead of ser*.
Fundamental Rules
Estar is used for:
- Temporary or changing states (e.g., Estoy cansado — I am tired).
- Locations of people, places, or things (e.g., El libro está en la mesa — The book is on the table).
- Ongoing actions in the present progressive (e.g., Estoy estudiando — I am studying).
- Describing how something tastes or feels at a particular moment (e.g., La sopa está caliente — The soup is hot).
Use ser for: identity, origin, time, and permanent characteristics.
Summary
- Temporary states/conditions
- Locations (not just physical objects, but also temporary situations)
- Present progressive (estar + gerund)
- Temporary qualities
Conjugations
Estar is irregular in several tenses. Here are the key forms:
| Tense | Singular | Plural | Spanish Example (1st Person Singular) | English Example (1st Person Singular) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Indicative | estoy | estamos | Estoy cansado. | I am tired. |
| Preterite | estuve | estuvimos | Estuve en casa. | I was at home. |
| Imperfect | estaba | estábamos | Estaba feliz. | I was happy. |
| Conditional | estaría | estaríamos | Estaría en la playa. | I would be at the beach. |
| Future | estaré | estaremos | Estaré ocupado. | I will be busy. |
| Present Subjunctive | esté | estemos | Espero que esté listo. | I hope he/she is ready. |
- Estoy leyendo (I am reading) — Present progressive
- Ojalá que estés bien (I hope you are well) — Subjunctive
- Estuve enfermo (I was sick) — Preterite
Usage Cases
Temporary States and Conditions
Use estar to talk about moods, health, and other states that can change.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Estoy cansado. | I am tired. |
| Ella está feliz. | She is happy. |
| Estamos enfermos. | We are sick. |
Locations
Use estar to describe where people, objects, and places are located.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| El libro está en la mesa. | The book is on the table. |
| Estamos en casa. | We are at home. |
| ¿Dónde estás? | Where are you? |
Present Progressive
Use estar + gerund to describe actions happening right now.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Estoy estudiando. | I am studying. |
| Están comiendo. | They are eating. |
| Estamos hablando. | We are speaking. |
Temporary Quality or Condition
Use estar for qualities that are not permanent or are subject to change.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| La sopa está caliente. | The soup is hot. |
| El café está frío. | The coffee is cold. |
| La ventana está abierta. | The window is open. |
Distinguishing from Ser: Temporary vs. Permanent
Use estar when the condition or state is temporary, and ser when it is permanent or defining.
| Ser Example | Estar Example |
|---|---|
| Ella es aburrida. (She is boring.) | Ella está aburrida. (She is bored.) |
| La manzana es verde. (It is a green apple.) | La manzana está verde. (The apple is unripe.) |
Idiomatic Expressions with Estar
There are many fixed expressions with estar.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Estoy de acuerdo. | I agree. |
| Está bien. | It’s okay. |
| Estoy en contra. | I am against it. |
Common Mistakes
- Using ser instead of estar for temporary situations.
- Incorrect: *Soy cansado.
- Correct: *Estoy cansado.
- Using estar for permanent characteristics.
- Incorrect: *Estoy inteligente.
- Correct: *Soy inteligente.
- Confusing location with origin.
- Incorrect: *Estoy de España.
- Correct: *Soy de España.
- Forgetting the accent in 3rd person singular/plural present subjunctive.
- Incorrect: *Espero que este listo.
- Correct: *Espero que esté listo.
Exercise Types
Fill-in-the-Blank with Conjugation
Complete the sentence with the correct form of estar.
| Spanish Prompt | English Prompt |
|---|---|
| Yo (estar) en la oficina. | I am at the office. |
| Ellos (estar) cansados. | They are tired. |
| Nosotros (estar) estudiando. | We are studying. |
Choosing Between Ser and Estar
Select ser or estar for each sentence.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ella _ (ser/estar) médica. | She is a doctor. |
| Nosotros _ (ser/estar) en la playa. | We are at the beach. |
| La tarea _ (ser/estar) difícil. | The homework is difficult. |
Location Descriptions
Describe the location of the objects or people using estar.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| El gato _ (estar) debajo de la mesa. | The cat is under the table. |
| Tú _ (estar) en el jardín. | You are in the garden. |
Fill in the blank with the correct form of estar: "Tú _______ en el jardín."
estás
Estás is the second person singular form used to describe a temporary location.
State/Condition Descriptions
Describe the state or condition of the subjects using estar.
| Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Yo _ (estar) enfermo. | I am sick. |
| Ellos _ (estar) contentos. | They are happy. |
Fill in the blank with the correct form of estar: "Ellos _______ contentos."
están
Están is the third person plural form used to describe a temporary emotional state.
Recap
Estar means "to be" and is used for:
- Temporary states and conditions
- Locations
- Present progressive (ongoing actions)
- Temporary qualities
Remember, when in doubt, ask:
- Is it temporary or subject to change? → Estar
- Is it permanent or an inherent trait? → Ser
Flashcards (1 of 31)
- Tense: Present Indicative
- Singular: estoy
- Plural: estamos
- English Example (1st Person Singular): I am tired.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
