Spanish Basics

Rules

Ser

Is used to identify people and objects in answer to the questions:
¿Quien...? - Who...(is something or somebody)? -and-
¿Qué...? - What...(is something or somebody)?
Is used with adj and nouns to describe the basic, innate characteristics of a person or an object, in answer to the questions:.
¿Cómo es...? - What is (something or somebody) like? -and-
¿De qué es...? - What is (something) made of?
Ser is also used:
- to say where you are from
- to tell the time or date
- when an action was or is being done to someone or something
- or when an actions were or are being done to some people or somethings
- to refer to age with joven or viejo

Estar

Is originally from the Latin for the verb "to stand" stare.
It implies the question "where does it stand" or "where is it?"
and can also be taken figuratively as "what's the state of (something or someone)?"
Estar represents the changeable nature of somebody or something.

Is used to identify people and objects in answer to the questions:
¿Dónde...? - Where... (is something or somebody)? -and-
¿Cómo...? - How...(is something or somebody)? In what state is...is something or somebody)?

Is used in the 1st person plural to tell the date, as in:
¿A cuántos estamos? (What's the date?)
Estamos el cinco de Mayo. (It's the 5th of May)

Estar is also used:
- in the present progressive tense
- with the phrase ...algo estar hecho de... (...something was made of...)
- with the phrase estar para (to be about to)
- with the phrase estar por + infinitive (to be in favor of, to be for)

Ser

él es un plomero.	- He is a plumber.
Nuestro refrigerador es de GE.	- Our refridgerator is a GE.
Tú cocina es muy grande.	- Your kitchen is very large.
El anillo es de plata.	- The ring is silver.
Soy de Syracuse.	- I'm from Syracuse.
Soy muy idealista.	- I'm very idealistic.
Es la uno.	- It's one o'clock.
Son las dos.	- It's two o'clock.
Es el cinco de Mayo.	- It's the fifth of May.
El carro ha sido vendido.	- The car has been sold.
Mis gatos son muy jóvenes.	- The cats are very young.
él es muy divertido.	- He is very amusing.
élla es muy bueno.	- She is very good.
él es muy listo.	- He is clever.
Yo soy malo.	- I am bad.

Estar

él esta cansado.	- He is tired.
Ella está en casa ahora.	- She is at home now.
Ella está triste.	- You are sad.
La mesa está hecho de madera.	- The table is made of wood.
Mi hermano está enojado conmigo.	- My brother is angry with me.
Estamos comiendo.	- We are eating.
No estoy por comprarlo.	- I wasn't in favor of buying it.
Estaba para comprar el libro.	- I was about to buy the book.
Estamos el cinco de Mayo.	- It's the fifth of May.
El carro está vendido.	- The car is sold.
Mis perros estan muerto.	- My dogs are dead.
él es muy divertido.	- He is very amused.
La comida esta bueno.	- The food is good.
él esta muy listo.	- He is ready.
Yo estoy malo.	- I am sick.

Comparisons of Equality

To make comparisons between things that are equal, using the as, such as you are as tall as I, or when making quantifiable comparisons with as much/as many ... as

tan + adjective/adverb + como

tanto/a/os/as + noun + como

Yo soy tan alto como tú.
- I am as tall as you.
Tienes tantos discos como yo. - You have as many records as I.

Other topics:
por vs. para
verbs of indirection (se me olvido, etc)
giving directions
ordering food
nunca/nadie/nada
alguien/algo/alguna
tal ...
... vez/veces
acaba de ...
dolor de ...
questions
starting sentences (quizas, aunque, además,...)
plus - add advice on when to use preterite/imperfect