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Year 5

How are you today and usually? 'Estar' for states and 'ser' for traits

I can say how I and others are today and usually using 'estar' and 'ser'.

New
New
Year 5

How are you today and usually? 'Estar' for states and 'ser' for traits

I can say how I and others are today and usually using 'estar' and 'ser'.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Using known words, cognates and context can help you decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words like a word detective.
  2. To ask someone who they are, use ¿quién eres?. To ask what they are like generally use ¿cómo eres?
  3. The verb 'ser' meaning 'to be, being' is used for general traits.
  4. The verb 'estar' meaning 'to be, being' is used for location and temporary states.

Keywords

  • Quién - question word meaning 'who'

  • Cómo - question word meaning 'how'

  • Estar - Spanish verb meaning 'to be, being' used for location and temporary states

  • Ser - Spanish verb meaning to be, being used for general traits

Common misconception

There is one verb for 'to be, being' as there is in English.

In Spanish, there are two verbs for 'to be, being': 'estar' is used for location and temporary states and 'ser' is used for general traits.


To help you plan your year 5 spanish lesson on: How are you today and usually? 'Estar' for states and 'ser' for traits, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Additional practice of the two verbs 'estar' and 'ser' may be helpful to develop pupils' understanding of their different uses. Pupils could produce additional mini-fact files as in the lesson for themselves or fictional characters to practise ser, estar, quién and cómo.
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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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word means 'silly'?
creativo
negativo
Correct answer: tonto
perdido
activo
Q2.
Which word means 'because'?
pero
y
o
Correct answer: porque
cuando
Q3.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Correct Answer:bonito,pretty

pretty

Correct Answer:cansado,tired

tired

Correct Answer:contento,pleased

pleased

Correct Answer:curioso,curious

curious

Correct Answer:nervioso,nervous

nervous

Correct Answer:preparado,prepared

prepared

Q4.
Match the Spanish to the English
Correct Answer:conejo,rabbit

rabbit

Correct Answer:perro,dog

dog

Correct Answer:gato,cat

cat

Correct Answer:profesor,teacher

teacher

Correct Answer:clase,class

class

Correct Answer:tortuga,tortoise

tortoise

Q5.
Translate into English 'el perro está cansado'.
Correct Answer: The dog is tired., The dog is being tired.
Q6.
Translate into Spanish 'the boy is happy but serious'.
Correct Answer: El niño está feliz pero serio.

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Correct Answer:cuidar,to look after, looking after

to look after, looking after

Correct Answer:ser,to be, being

to be, being

Correct Answer:estar,to be, being

to be, being

Correct Answer:practicar,to practise, practising

to practise, practising

Correct Answer:hablar,to speak, speaking

to speak, speaking

Correct Answer:tener,to have, having

to have, having

Q2.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Correct Answer:buenos días,good day

good day

Correct Answer:hasta luego,see you later

see you later

Correct Answer:hola,hello

hello

Correct Answer:buenas noches,good evening

good evening

Correct Answer:encantado,pleasure (to meet you)

pleasure (to meet you)

Correct Answer:buenas tardes,good afternoon

good afternoon

Q3.
Which words could describe a feminine noun ('la')?
Correct answer: amable
negativo
divertido
Correct answer: diferente
Correct answer: feliz
Q4.
'I am very active but today I am tired.' Which is the best translation in Spanish?
Estoy muy activo pero hoy estoy cansado.
Correct answer: Soy muy activo pero hoy estoy cansado.
Soy muy creativo pero hoy soy cansado.
Soy muy activo pero hoy soy cansado.
Estoy positivo pero hoy soy negativo.
Q5.
'Solo estoy tranquilo el fin de semana.' Translate this sentence into English.
Correct Answer: I am only calm at the weekend.
Q6.
Translate into Spanish 'I'm generally positive'.
Correct Answer: Soy positivo generalmente., Soy positiva generalmente., Generalmente soy positivo.

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