Spanish Study Guide: SER vs. ESTAR, Present Progressive & Vocabulary

Vocabulary and grammar rules from Spanish study guide covering SER vs. ESTAR, conjugations, DOCTOR/PLACE acronyms, present progressive forms, and personality vocabulary terms.

SER conjugation for Yo

soy

SER conjugation for Tú

eres

SER conjugation for Él / Ella / Usted

es

SER conjugation for Nosotros / Nosotras

somos

SER conjugation for Vosotros / Vosotras

sois

SER conjugation for Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes

son

ESTAR conjugation for Yo

estoy

ESTAR conjugation for Tú

estás

ESTAR conjugation for Él / Ella / Usted

está

ESTAR conjugation for Nosotros / Nosotras

estamos

ESTAR conjugation for Vosotros / Vosotras

estáis

ESTAR conjugation for Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes

están

Acronym used to remember when to use SER

DOCTOR

Acronym used to remember when to use ESTAR

PLACE

Meaning of 'D' in DOCTOR

Description (e.g., Ella es alta)

Meaning of 'O' in DOCTOR (first O)

Occupation (e.g., Él es artista)

Meaning of 'C' in DOCTOR

Characteristic (e.g., La chica es extrovertida)

Meaning of 'T' in DOCTOR

Time / Date (e.g., Hoy es lunes)

Meaning of second 'O' in DOCTOR

Origin (e.g., Yo soy de México)

Meaning of 'R' in DOCTOR

Relationship (e.g., Ella es mi mamá)

Meaning of 'P' in PLACE

Position (e.g., El libro está en la mesa)

Meaning of 'L' in PLACE

Location (e.g., Juan está en el parque)

Meaning of 'A' in PLACE

Action (Present Progressive, e.g., Él está jugando)

Meaning of 'C' in PLACE

Condition (e.g., Los niños están alegres)

Meaning of 'E' in PLACE

Emotion (e.g., Yo estoy feliz)

Situation: Telling someone your job/profession (SER or ESTAR?)

SER (Occupation)

Situation: Saying where someone is located right now (SER or ESTAR?)

ESTAR (Location)

Situation: Describing someone’s permanent personality (SER or ESTAR?)

SER (Characteristic)

Situation: Describing an action happening right now (SER or ESTAR?)

ESTAR (Action / Present Progressive)

Situation: Stating where you were born or from (SER or ESTAR?)

SER (Origin)

Situation: Describing how someone is feeling emotionally right now (SER or ESTAR?)

ESTAR (Emotion)

When to use the Present Progressive tense

To describe an action happening right now in the moment

Two-part formula for Present Progressive

ESTAR (conjugated) + Verb ending in -ando or -iendo

Gerund ending for -AR verbs

-ando

Gerund ending for -ER and -IR verbs

-iendo

Present Progressive gerund of 'jugar'

jugando

Present Progressive gerund of 'cantar'

cantando

Present Progressive gerund of 'escalar'

escalando

Present Progressive gerund of 'dibujar'

dibujando

Present Progressive gerund of 'escribir'

escribiendo

Present Progressive gerund of 'comer'

comiendo

Present Progressive gerund of 'sonreír'

sonriendo

Translate: 'He is playing soccer.'

Él está jugando al fútbol.

Translate: 'She is singing.'

Ella está cantando.

Translate: 'I am writing.'

Yo estoy escribiendo.

Spelling in Spanish: 'Artistic'

artístico / artística (Note: accent on the first í: a-r-t-í-s-t-i-c-o)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Unique'

único / única (Note: accent on the ú: ú-n-i-c-o)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Introverted'

introvertido / introvertida (Note: ends in -vertido)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Extroverted'

extrovertido / extrovertida (Note: starts with ex-)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Friendly'

amiguero / amiguera (Note: -gui- has a 'u' in it)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Athletic/Sports-minded'

deportista (Note: ends in -ista for both male and female)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Humble'

humilde (Note: starts with a silent h)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Mature'

maduro / madura

Spelling in Spanish: 'Stubborn'

terco / terca

Spelling in Spanish: 'Healthy'

saludable (Note: contains salud + -able)

Spelling in Spanish: 'Direct/Honest'

directo / directa

Spelling in Spanish: 'Athletic'

atlético / atlética (Note: accent on the é: a-t-l-é-t-i-c-o)