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Spanish (Spain) • Level 0 • GRAMMAR

present: ser

💡 Grammar Rule

The Verb Ser (To Be)

The verb ser is one of the most important verbs in Spanish. It corresponds to the English verb "to be." It is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the standard patterns of conjugation.

Conjugation (Present Indicative)

Note the inclusion of vosotros/as, which is the standard informal plural "you" used in Spain.

  • Yo soy — I am
  • Tú eres — You are (informal, singular)
  • Él / Ella / Usted es — He / She / You are (formal, singular)
  • Nosotros / Nosotras somos — We are
  • Vosotros / Vosotras sois — You all are (informal, plural – Spain)
  • Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes son — They / You all are (formal, plural)

Main Uses

We primarily use ser to describe permanent or lasting characteristics ("ESSENCE").

  • Identity and Identification: To state who someone is.
    Hola, soy Laura. (Hello, I am Laura.)
  • Origin and Nationality: To say where someone is from.
    Vosotros sois españoles. (You all are Spanish.)
  • Profession: To state someone's job.
    Mi madre es ingeniera. (My mother is an engineer.)
  • Description: To describe physical traits or personality.
    El coche es rojo y rápido. (The car is red and fast.)
  • Time and Date: To tell the time or the day.
    Hoy es martes. (Today is Tuesday.)
Are you a student?
¿Eres estudiante?
Yes, I am a student.
Sí, soy estudiante.
Who is he?
¿Quién es él?
He is my father.
Es mi padre.
You girls are friends, right?
Vosotras sois amigas, ¿verdad?
Yes, we are best friends.
Sí, somos mejores amigas.
Are you tourists?
¿Son ustedes turistas?
No, we are residents.
No, somos residentes.
She is the Spanish teacher.
Ella es la profesora de español.
Oh! She is very nice.
¡Ah! Es muy simpática.
I am not the boss.
Yo no soy el jefe.
Who is the boss?
¿Quién es el jefe?
Are you the doctor?
¿Es usted el doctor?
Yes, I am Doctor Lopez.
Sí, soy el doctor López.
They are my brothers.
Ellos son mis hermanos.
They are very tall.
Son muy altos.
What is this?
¿Qué es esto?
It is a book.
Es un libro.
We are sisters.
Nosotras somos hermanas.
That’s great!
¡Qué bien!
Are you art students?
¿Sois estudiantes de arte?
No, we are musicians.
No, somos músicos.
Juan is a good boy.
Juan es un buen chico.
Yes, he is my friend.
Sí, es mi amigo.
Who are they?
¿Quiénes son ellas?
They are my neighbors.
Son mis vecinas.
Are you a waiter?
¿Eres camarero?
No, I am a cook.
No, soy cocinero.
Is this animal a dog?
¿Es este animal un perro?
No, it is a wolf.
No, es un lobo.
You are not a stranger.
Usted no es un extraño.
Thanks, you are very kind.
Gracias, es usted muy amable.
We are a team.
Somos un equipo.
Yes, we are the best.
Sí, somos los mejores.
Is Carmen your mother?
¿Es Carmen tu madre?
No, she is my aunt.
No, es mi tía.
You are the hope.
Vosotros sois la esperanza.
Thanks for saying that!
¡Gracias por decir eso!
Are they police officers?
¿Son ellos policías?
Yes, they are police officers.
Sí, son policías.
I am an architect.
Yo soy arquitecto.
It is an interesting job!
¡Es un trabajo interesante!
Is it a problem?
¿Es un problema?
No, it is not a problem.
No, no es un problema.
You are Ana’s parents, right?
Ustedes son los padres de Ana, ¿no?
Yes, we are her parents.
Sí, somos sus padres.
Are you the winner?
¿Eres tú el ganador?
Yes, it is me!
Sí, ¡soy yo!
They aren’t tourists.
Ellas no son turistas.
No, they are students.
No, son estudiantes.

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