What’s the difference between “ser” and “estar”
in Portuguese?
In first
place, I’m not a teacher of languages, but I want to be one day. =) I create
this blog for offer some help for English speakers about my language, Brazilian
Portuguese and for show a bit of our culture too.
I will try
answering any question in commentaries and I ask you, forgive me for any
mistakes on my English writing. ^^
Now, let’s
go!
TO BE
When we learn about the To Be verb in English’s
courses, we learn this: To Be is for “Ser” and “Estar”.
In this way: “Eu sou medico.” =
“I’m doctor” or “Eu estou cansado.” = “I’m tired.”.
This is easy for us, but, when the English Speakers
have to learn Portuguese, appears the doubt. What the hell is that? O.o
Calm down, let us see.
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Photo by Casa da Motivação |
SER
and ESTAR
“Ser” = have identity and/or intrinsic characteristic.
It relates to something that does not change or changes very slowly, something
not transitory.
"Estar" = for the situations that we can change quickly , it is totally transitory.
"Estar" = for the situations that we can change quickly , it is totally transitory.
Example:
“Eu sou novo aqui.” =
“I am new here.” = I can't change that quickly, just after a lot time that I will no longer be “the new
guy”.
“Eu sou um homem
negro.” = “I’m a black
man.” = With the exception of Michael Jackson (sorry about the joke, but it is
true), we can’t change our color skin permanently, we can sunbathe in, but this
is temporally. If you are white, you are white. If you are yellow, you are
yellow. Forever! In these cases we use “ser”.
“Eu estou cansado.” = “I’m tired.” = I’m tired, but if
I take a breath or rest, I will be fine again. So, “estar cansado” is transitory,
I can change that quickly, because of that, we use “estar”.
“Eu estou com fome.” =
“I'm hungry.” = In this
case, we have a transitory situation again: I’m hungry, but I can eat and then,
I’m not hungry anymore.
"Eu estou na casa." = "I'm in the house." = I can move from place quickly if I want to.
"Eu estou na casa." = "I'm in the house." = I can move from place quickly if I want to.
RESUME:
Ser = for the situations that we can't change easily or we can never change, that
is not transitory.
Estar = for the situations that we can change quickly , it is totally transitory.
When you go to make a decision between
“Ser” or
“Estar”, think:
“This situation is definitely,
difficult to change or
transitory?”
EXAMPLES of “Estar”:
“Ela está noiva.” =
“She is engaged.”
“Eu estou com medo.”
= “I’m scared.”
“Nós estamos
atrasados.” = “We are late.”
“Eu estou no hotel.”
= “I’m in the hotel.”
“Eu estou escrevendo
um livro.” = “I’m wrinting a book.”
“Ela está dormindo.”
= “She is sleeping.”
“Eu estou
apaixonado.” = “I’m in love.”
“Ele está nervoso.” =
“He is nervours.”
“Minha calça está
suja.” = “My pants are durty.”
EXAMPLES of “Ser”:
“Ela é magra.” = “She is skinny.”
“Você é branco.” = “You are white.”
“Minha camisa é azul.” = “My shirt is blue.”
“Meu filho é um
bebê.” = “My son is a
baby.”
EXCEPTIONS: For dates, hours and professions, we always use the “Ser”.
Examples:
“Hoje é 17 de
fevereiro.” = “Today is February, 17.”
“Minha festa é às
14h.” = “My party is
at 2:00 PM.”
"Meu pai é um professor." = "My father is a teacher."
That’s it! Any questions, suggestions or critics,
please comment and I answer. ^^
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