verbs foundation

ser

Who/ What you are; used mainly for identity, characteristics, origin, profession, and what someone/something is

estar

How/ Where you are; used mainly for condition, feelings, and location

soy

I am — form of SER

eres

you are — form of SER for tú

es

he is / she is / you are — form of SER for él, ella, usted

somos

we are — form of SER

son

they are / you all are — form of SER

estoy

I am — form of ESTAR

estás

you are — form of ESTAR for tú

está

he is / she is / you are — form of ESTAR for él, ella, usted

estamos

we are — form of ESTAR

están

they are / you all are — form of ESTAR

Estoy cansado.

I am tired.

Estoy feliz

I am happy.

Estoy bien

I am fine / I am well.

Estoy aquí

I am here.

Estoy en casa.

I am at home.

Soy un hombre.

I am a man.

Soy un padre.

I am a father.

Soy americano.

I am American.

Soy alto.

I am tall.

Estás cansado.

You are tired.

Estás aquí.

You are here.

Eres mi amigo.

You are my friend.

Eres alto.

You are tall.

Ella está cansada.

She is tired.

Ella está en casa.

She is at home.

Ella es mi esposa.

She is my wife.

Ella es bonita.

She is beautiful.

Estamos cansados.

We are tired.

Estamos aquí.

We are here.

Somos amigos.

We are friends.

Somos una familia.

We are a family.

Ellos están cansados.

They are tired.

Ellos están aquí.

They are here.

Ellos son amigos.

They are friends.

Ellos son hermanos.

They are brothers.

Yo estoy cansado.

I am tired. Correct, but "yo" usually isn't necessary.

Estoy cansado.

I am tired. More natural unless you want to emphasize "I."

Yo soy un padre.

I am a father. Correct, but "yo" usually isn't necessary.

Soy un padre.

I am a father. More natural unless you want to emphasize "I."

Why can Spanish drop "yo"?

Because the conjugated verb already tells us who is speaking. "Estoy" already means "I am."

When should I use "yo"?

When emphasizing or contrasting "I" with someone else.

Ella está cansada, pero yo estoy bien.

She is tired, but I am fine. "Yo" emphasizes the contrast.

Estoy

I am — ESTAR — think HOW or WHERE I am

Soy

I am — SER — think WHO or WHAT I am

Estás

You are — ESTAR — think HOW or WHERE you are

Eres

You are — SER — think WHO or WHAT you are

Está

He/she is — ESTAR — think HOW or WHERE they are

Es

He/she is — SER — think WHO or WHAT they are

Estamos

We are — ESTAR — think HOW or WHERE we are

Somos

We are — SER — think WHO or WHAT we are

Están

They are — ESTAR — think HOW or WHERE they are

Son

They are — SER — think WHO or WHAT they are