The verb ser is one of the two Spanish verbs meaning “to be.” It is used to describe essential qualities, identity, origin, and other permanent or defining characteristics—things that are considered inherently part of someone or something.
- Irregular: Ser does not follow standard conjugation patterns, especially in the present, preterite, and subjunctive forms.
- Use: Ser describes what something is (its essence), rather than conditions or states (which use estar).
- Key: "Ser" = to be (in a permanent/defining sense).
Ser Conjugation (Indicative)
Here are the main indicative tenses for ser, used to describe reality and facts.
| Tense | Spanish Subject Pronouns | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Yo soy estudiante. | I am a student. |
| (Presente) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Tú eres médico. | You are a doctor. |
| Ellos son amigos. | They are friends. | ||
| Imperfect | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Ella era joven. | She was young. |
| (Imperfecto) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Nosotros éramos estudiantes. | We were students. |
| Ellos eran hermanos. | They were siblings. | ||
| Preterite | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Fui al cine. | I went to the cinema. |
| (Pretérito) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Ella fue profesora. | She was a teacher. |
| Fuimos amigos. | We were friends. | ||
| Future | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Seré feliz. | I will be happy. |
| (Futuro) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Serás famoso. | You will be famous. |
| Serán médicos. | They will be doctors. |
Ser Conjugation (Additional Tenses)
These tenses allow you to discuss ser in the past perfect, conditional, and subjunctive moods—useful for more advanced expression.
| Tense | Spanish Subject Pronouns | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Perfect | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Yo he sido presidente. | I have been president. |
| (Pretérito Perfecto) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Hemos sido honestos. | We have been honest. |
| Ellos han sido justos. | They have been fair. | ||
| Conditional | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Sería feliz contigo. | I would be happy with you. |
| (Condicional) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Serías buen maestro. | You would be a good teacher. |
| Serían famosos. | They would be famous. | ||
| Present Subjunctive | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Quiero que seas feliz. | I want you to be happy. |
| (Presente de Subjuntivo) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Espero que sea sencillo. | I hope it is simple. |
| Ojalá sean puntuales. | I hope they are punctual. | ||
| Imperfect Subjunctive | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Si yo fuera rico... | If I were rich... |
| (Imperfecto de Subjuntivo) | yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ellos | Si fueras tú... | If you were you... |
| Si fueran médicos... | If they were doctors... |
Yo ____ presidente alguna vez.
he sido
'He sido' is present perfect, showing experience up to now: "I have been president."
Ser Usage
Ser describes identity, origin, time, and other inherent qualities. Here are the main uses of ser:
| Usage | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identity/Description | Ella es alta y amable. | She is tall and kind. |
| Origin/Nationality | Soy de México. | I am from Mexico. |
| Profession | Él es ingeniero. | He is an engineer. |
| Time/Date | Son las tres. | It is three o’clock. |
| Possession | Es mi libro. | It is my book. |
| Material | La mesa es de madera. | The table is made of wood. |
| Relationships | Ellos son hermanos. | They are siblings. |
| Events (location) | La boda es en la iglesia. | The wedding is in the church. |
Ser vs. Estar
Ser = permanent, defining quality
Estar = temporary state or condition
| Use | Ser Example | Estar Example |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Soy inteligente. | — |
| Condition | — | Estoy cansado. |
| Origin | Soy argentino. | — |
| Location | — | Estoy en casa. |
| Identity/Role | Él es profesor. | — |
What is the main difference between ser and estar?
Ser is for permanent qualities; estar is for temporary states.
Ser describes what something is essentially; estar describes how something is conditionally.
Summary
- Ser means “to be” (essential or permanent qualities).
- It is irregular in several tenses.
- Use ser for identity, origin, time, possession, material, relationships, and event locations.
- Remember: ser = permanent; estar = temporary.
Flashcards (1 of 32)
- Tense: Present
- English Example: I am a student.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
