Spanish Grammar: Ser vs. Estar, Prepositions of Location, and Numbers

Flashcards covering the conjugations, distinctions, and uses of ser and estar, prepositions and adverbs of location, and large numbers presented in Lección 2.

Estar

A Spanish verb meaning "to be," irregular in the present tense, typically used to express temporary conditions, states of being, location, position, health, well-being, and progressive actions.

Ser

A Spanish verb meaning "to be," irregular in all present tense forms, typically used to express permanent qualities, identity, occupation, origin, nationality, day, date, time, and physical or personality descriptions.

Accent Pattern of Estar

The present tense of estar carries a written accent on the letter "á" in four forms: estás, está, estáis, and están; the yo form (estoy) and nosotros/as form (estamos) do not have an accent mark.

En casa vs. La casa

The distinction where "la casa" is used to express "the house," whereas the prepositional phrase "en casa" expresses "at home."

I-D-O-N-O-T-P

An acronym used to remember the uses of the verb ser: Identification, Day and Date, Occupation, Nationality, Origin, Time, and Personality and Physical descriptions.

Estar Rhyme

A mnemonic rhyme used to recall the primary functions of estar: "How you feel and where you are, always use the verb Estar."

Al lado de

A prepositional phrase used with estar meaning "next to."

A la derecha de / A la izquierda de

Prepositional phrases meaning "to the right of" and "to the left of," respectively.

Cerca de / Lejos de

Prepositional phrases meaning "near" and "far from," respectively.

Delante de / Detrás de

Prepositional phrases meaning "in front of" and "behind," respectively.

Encima de / Debajo de

Prepositional phrases meaning "on top of" and "below," respectively.

Entre

A preposition indicating location meaning "between."

Sobre

A preposition meaning "on" or "over."

Allí / Allá

Adverbs of place used with estar meaning "there" (allí) and "over there" (allá).

Con / Sin

Prepositions meaning "with" (con) and "without" (sin).

Doscientos cuarenta y cinco mil trescientos veinte

The Spanish phrase for the number $245{,}320$.

Diez millones quinientos veintitrés mil noventa y nueve

The Spanish phrase for the number $10{,}523{,}099$.

Trescientos ochenta y siete

The Spanish phrase for the number $387$.

Cincuenta y cinco mil novecientos trece

The Spanish phrase for the number $55{,}913$.