Verbo Ser vs. Estar (A1 level) (Portuguese)

We usually use the verb Ser - to be (~permanent) to describe characteristics that don’t change easily or often.

8 commom uses of verb Ser - to be (~permanent)

1. Use Ser for introductions

1. Eu sou Luciana. = I am Luciana.

2. Meu nome é Luciana. = My name is Luciana.

3. Este é Marcos. = This is Marcos.

2. Use Ser to express nationality or place of origin

1. Eu sou brasileira. = I am Brazilian.

2. Dani é do Brasil. = Dani is from Brazil.

3. Eles são americanos. = They are Americans.

3. Use Ser to state your profession

1. Eu sou professora. = I am a teacher.

2. Márcio é médico. = Márcio is a physician.

I can change my profession, right? But this is not something I change from one moment to the next or according to my mood. This is the spirit of the verb Ser.

4. Use Ser to indicate marital status

1. Joana é casada. = Joana is married.

2. Nós somos solteiros. = We are single.

3. Eles são divorciados. = They are divorced.

5. Use Ser to express relationships between people

1. Elas são irmãs. = They are sisters.

2. Vanessa e eu somos amigas. = Vanessa and I are friends.

3. João é meu chefe. = João is my boss.

6. Use Ser to indicate ownership

1. Este livro é meu. = This book is mine.

2. Essa é a casa da Camila. = This is Camila’s house.

7. Use Ser to describe permanent or long-lasting characteristics of people, places, and objects

1. Carol é muito engraçada. = Carol is very funny.

2. Este livro é muito bom. = This book is very good.

3. São Paulo é uma cidade fascinante. = São Paulo is a fascinating city.

4. João é um cara alegre. = João is a joyful guy.

Notice that these examples describe how people, places, and things are in general, not how they are just now or how they feel at the moment (that is the verb Estar’s job).

8. Use Ser to express dates and time

1. Hoje é quarta-feira. = Today is Wednesday.

2. Hoje é dia 9 de novembro. = Today is November’s 9th.

3. São onze horas. = It’s 11 am.

You may be thinking: “Wait! You just told me that I should use the verb Ser for permanent characteristics. It’s only 11 am for a minute.” I know, right? But we use the verb Ser for dates and the time. Rules can help us, but they won’t answer all our questions.

We usually use the verb Estar - to be (~temporary) to express conditions, characteristics, or states that are transitory or not permanent, such as how you feel at a certain moment.

Commom uses of verb Estar - to be (~temporary)

1. Temporary characteristics

1. A Ana está triste porque o André terminou com ela. = Ana is feeling sad because André broke up with her.

2. Tiago está muito cansado hoje. = Tiago is very tired today.

2. Greettings

1. Olá, como está? = Hello, how are you?

2. Oi, tudo bem? Como estão as coisas? = Hi, how are you? How are things?

3. Location

1. Maria está em casa. = Maria is at home.

2. Lorena está na praia. = Lorena is at the beach.

3. Onde está a chave do carro? = Where is the car key?

4. The weather

1. Hoje está sol. = Today is sunny.

2. Agora está a chuver. = Now it is raining.

5. Specific situations that require the use verb Estar - to be (~temporary) + prepostion com

1. Estou com fome. = I’m hungry.

2. Todos estão com fome. = Everyone is hungry.

3. Helena está com sede. = Helena is thirsty.

4. Estou com frio. = I feel cold.

5. Estou com calor. = I feel hot.

6. Márcio está com sono. = Márcio is sleepy.

7. Nós estamos com pressa. = We are in a hurry.

8. Mariana não está com medo. = Mariana is not scared.

9. Ela está com ciúme do namorado. = She is feelings jealous of her boyfriend.

10. Ele está com inveja de você. = He is feeling envious of you.

Share the drawing you made of The 4 amigos!

https://padlet.com/helena_bidarra/jmfmwbnggzih5pzq

Review the differences between sing verb Ser or Estar - to be, by playing around with this quizlet.

Extra (optional) homework from the book Gramática Ativa 1.

Extra (optional) homework from the book Gramática Ativa 1 (cont.).