Using Estar for Temporary

To use estar, you must change its form. This is called conjugation. You change the ending to match the person. The verb estar is mostly regular. However, the first person form is a bit special. Instead of esto, we say estoy. It ends with a "y." Most other forms need an accent mark. These accents are very important. They tell you where to put the stress. They also distinguish the verb from other words. For example, esta means "this." But está means "he or she is." That little line changes everything. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells you when to stop and emphasize. Always look for those little accent marks. They are your best friends in Spanish.

1. 1Using estar follows a simple three-step process.
2. 2Identify the subject of your sentence. Who are you talking about?
3. 3Choose the correct form of estar from the list.
4. 4Add the condition, location, or feeling.
5. 5Here is the breakdown for you:
6. 6For "I": Use estoy.
7. 7For "You" (informal): Use estás.
8. 8For "He/She/You" (formal): Use está.
9. 9For "We": Use estamos.
10. 10For "You all" (Spain): Use estáis.
11. 11For "They/You all": Use están.
12. 12Think of it as a matching game. Once you match the person to the verb, you are halfway there. Just add your adjective or place at the end.

You can remember when to use estar with the acronym PLACE.

• Position: El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table).
• Location: Estamos en el café. (We are at the cafe).
• Action: Estoy comiendo. (I am eating right now).
• Condition: La sopa está fría. (The soup is cold).
• Emotion: Ella está muy feliz. (She is very happy).

Use it when ordering food. "This coffee is hot" is Este café está caliente. Use it for directions. "The museum is near" is El museo está cerca. Use it in a job interview. "I am ready" is Estoy listo. It covers everything that is happening in the present moment. It is the verb of the "here and now."

Do not use estar for permanent things. This is where ser takes over. Do not use it for your name. Do not use it for your job. If you say Estoy profesor, people might laugh. It sounds like you are a teacher for only five minutes. Use ser for your profession. Do not use estar for where you are from. Origin is permanent. Your DNA does not change. Use ser for your personality too. If you are a funny person, use ser. If you are just laughing at a joke right now, use estar. It is a subtle difference. But it makes you sound much more natural.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the accents. Estas without an accent means "these." Estás with an accent means "you are." If you forget the accent, your sentence might change completely. Another mistake is using estar for time. In English, we say "It is five o'clock." In Spanish, we use ser for time. Never say Está las cinco. It sounds very strange to a native ear. Also, watch out for the "Yo" form. Many people want to say esto. Remember the "y"! It is estoy. Think of it like the "y" in "joy." Using estar correctly brings joy to your Spanish teacher.

The main rival of estar is ser. Think of ser as your permanent ID card. It is who you are. Think of estar as your status update. It is how you are. Let's look at an apple. La manzana es verde means the apple is the color green. That is its type. La manzana está verde means the apple is unripe. It is not ready to eat yet. One describes a trait. The other describes a condition. This is the secret to mastering Spanish. One verb is the essence. The other verb is the state. Choose wisely! It changes the whole meaning of your sentence.