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Ser: who or what something is

Use ser for identity, origin, profession, time and lasting traits: soy profesor, es de México, son las tres.

Present tense: yo soy, tú eres, él / ella / usted es, nosotros somos, ellos / ustedes son.

Ser answers "what is it?" or "what is it like by nature?": La mesa es de madera.

For where something is, or how someone feels right now, use estar instead.

Pattern: subject + ser + noun / adjective / de + place

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• Soy de Chile.
  I am from Chile.
• Ella es médica.
  She is a doctor.

In real sentences

• ¿Qué es?
  What is it?
  Tatoeba: alexmarcelo
• Es la una.
  It's one o'clock.
  Tatoeba: alexmarcelo
• ¿Para qué es?
  What is it for?
  Tatoeba: DJ_Saidez
• Pero ¿qué es?
  But what is it?
  Tatoeba: Seael
• Sí lo es.
  Yes, it is.
  Tatoeba: Barra
• ¿Y si no es?
  And if it’s not?
  Tatoeba: Barra

Before this lesson

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