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How are you feeling? 'Ser' and 'estar' 1st and 2nd person singular
I can use the verbs 'ser' and 'estar' to describe states and traits of myself and others accurately.
Lesson 3 of 7
New
New
- Year 9
How are you feeling? 'Ser' and 'estar' 1st and 2nd person singular
I can use the verbs 'ser' and 'estar' to describe states and traits of myself and others accurately.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- To say 'I am' for a location or state, use ‘estoy’ ('estar'), and for a trait, use ‘soy’ ('ser').
- To say 'you are' for a location or state, use ‘estás’ ('estar'), and for a trait, use ‘eres’ ('ser').
- Some adjectives can only be used with estar because they only describe a state, not a trait, e.g. 'enfermo', 'triste'.
- Some adjectives change meaning with 'ser' and 'estar', e.g. ‘aburrido’, ‘listo’, ‘moreno’ and ‘seguro’.
- To ask a question in Spanish, you can simply raise your intonation at the end of the sentence.
Keywords
Ser - verb meaning 'to be, being' used for permanent traits
Estar - verb meaning 'to be, being' used for temporary states
Common misconception
It doesn’t matter whether I use 'ser' or 'estar' as they both mean 'to be,' so they’re interchangeable.
'Ser' is used for permanent traits or characteristics, while 'estar' is used for temporary states, such as emotions or feelings.
The teacher may choose to show students the trailer for the film Encanto to introduce or support the lesson.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'grandmother'?
Which word means 'grandmother'?
abuelo
primo
hermana
prima
Q2.'Ellos __________ llenos después de comer.' Which word completes this sentence?
'Ellos __________ llenos después de comer.' Which word completes this sentence?
son
somos
eres
estás
Q3.Match the Spanish to the English.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Q4.Match the Spanish to the English.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Q5.Order the words to say 'she has blonde hair and blue eyes'.
Order the words to say 'she has blonde hair and blue eyes'.
Q6.'Your (singular) grandfather is very fun.'
'Your (singular) grandfather is very fun.'
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'husband'?
Which word means 'husband'?
mágico
familia
ruido
futuro
Q2.Which words are a pair of opposites?
Which words are a pair of opposites?
primera
bien
también
Q3.Match the Spanish to the English.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Q4.Order the words to say 'the mother uses her food to cure ill people'.
Order the words to say 'the mother uses her food to cure ill people'.
Q5.Order the words to say 'his uncle has super powers and can see the future'.
Order the words to say 'his uncle has super powers and can see the future'.
Q6.'Your brother is very strong.' Translate this sentence into Spanish.
'Your brother is very strong.' Translate this sentence into Spanish.
