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jerezano

May 11, 2007, 8:30 AM

Post #1 of 2 (3506 views)

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When to use ser and when to use estar.

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Hello,

Sometimes we Spanish students get discouraged. I just read the summary of a new 112 section doctoral thesis at the University of Texas on the simple subject of When to Use Ser and When to use Estar. Of course the thesis had a more complicated title:
1. Informacion sobre tesis doctoral: ROBY, D. 2007. Aspect and the
Categorization of States: The case of ser and estar in Spanish.

The only conclusion I could come to was that I will never know, not even should I read and understand the thesis.

So....what to do? Listen to my Mexican friends and try to do what they do. Is there any other way?

Adiós. jerezano.

raferguson

May 11, 2007, 6:31 PM

Post #2 of 2 (3488 views)

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Re: [jerezano] When to use ser and when to use estar.

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My rule was always to use ser for things that are permanent, or time, and estar for place, or things that are temporary. Maybe I am missing something, but I don't notice many exceptions. Sometimes when I am talking to somebody, I notice my mistakes when they reply to what I say, especially pronunciation. But I don't notice that I make many mistakes with ser and estar.

Soy Americano.
Estoy cansado.
Estoy afuera.

I would think that a PHd candidate would have to make the simple complicated to get his PHd. If he gave a simple answer, that would be too easy to merit a PHd. In other words, reading a PHd thesis is apt to confuse anyone. I don't recommend it.

The websites below are helpful, I think.
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/serest1.htm
http://www.colby.edu/...cises/ser_estar.html

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com