Skip links
Published on: Grammar Bites

¿Ser o Estar?

 

Ser-o-Estar

Have you ever wondered: what should I say: “¿Cómo es tu madre?” or “¿Cómo está tu madre?”?

If we say ¿Cómo es tu madre?, we are inquiring about her personality, occupation or physical description.

  • Ella es amable. She is kind.
  • Es doctora. She is a doctor.
  • Ella es alta. She is tall.

If we say  ¿Cómo está tu madre?, we are inquiring about her health, mood, or general state of being at the moment of speaking.

  • Ella está bien. She is well.
  • Ella está feliz. She is happy.
  • Ella está ocupada. She is busy.