The present tense of ser (to be)

(El tiempo presente del verbo ser)

Modified by M. Sincioco

somos(sois*)

son

soyeres

es

SerIts conjugation

Ser is an irregular verb.

(yo)(tú)(él)

(ella)

(nosotros)(vosotros*)(ellos)(ellas)

(“it”)(usted)

es (ustedes)son

*Spain only

We are

They are

I am

You are (informal)He is

The verb “Ser” = TO BE

Yo soy =

Tú eres =

Nosotros/as somos =

Ellos son = Ellas son =

Él es =

Ustedes son = You all are

Ella es =

She is

Usted es =

You are (formal)

They are

A Note about Subject Pronouns:

As you can see, verbs in Spanish have different conjugations (verb forms) depending on the subject of the sentence.

For this reason, subject pronouns are often omitted with verbs unless clarification is needed. For example, to introduce myself, I could say “Yo soy Mary” or simply “Soy Mary.”

A note about “Vosotros”:

The conjugation of SER in the vosotros form is “vosotros sois” (you all are).The vosotros form is only used in Spain, so we won’t use it in this class and it won’t be on tests.

“Usted” and “Ustedes”

Remember that “usted” can also be abbreviated “Ud.”

“Ustedes” can also be abbreviated “Uds.”

Using SER with Nouns:

With a singular noun, use “es” for “it is” or “it’s.”For example, “Es un dia bonita.” (It’s a pretty day).With a plural noun or two or more singular nouns, use “son” for “they are.”

For example, “El español y el italiano son muy similares.” (Spanish and Italian are very similar).

SER is one of the “to be” verbs

Ser is used to express:

What someone or something isWho someone is

The origin of someone or something

The inherent qualities of someone or something

SER tells what someone is in terms of their profession or occupation.

Ella es profesora.

SER tells what something is.

Esto es un diccionario.(This is a dictionary.)

Esto es una pluma.(This is a pen.)

SER tells who someone is.

¿Quién es

usted? ¿Yo? Yo soy Manuel Ortiz.

SER also tells our origin.

¿De dónde eres tú?

La señorita es de Nueva York.

Yo soy de . . .

Be aware that de must be used in the response as well as in the question.

(Notice that de means “from”)

El monstruo es muy feo.

Los perros son obedientes.

SER is used with inherent qualities.

Somos una familia feliz.

SER in conversation:

Yo soy el profesor Vargas.¿Quién eres tú?

With ser, as with all verbs in Spanish, the form of the verb must “flip” to its “opposite” form when it applies to someone within the conversation. soy somos

eres

es son

es son

Yo soy María.

mi teléfono celular.

SER in conversation:

¿Qué es eso que tienes en la mano?

Es

Conversely, if the verb form refers to someone or something outside the conversation, it does not “flip.”

soysomos

eres

es son

es son

Ejercicios con el verbo SER:

Complete each sentence with the appropriate form of the verb SER.

Subjects are in bold to help you identify them.

Example: “Mis estudiantes ________ muy inteligentes.” (My students are very intelligent.)

son

1. Teresa, ¿de dónde ______ tú? Teresa, where are you from?

2. Yo ______ de Cuba. I am from Cuba.

3. Profesor, ¿de dónde _____ usted? Professor, where are you from?

4. Mi familia ____ de Italia, pero yo _____ de Chile. My family is from Italy, but I am from Chile.

5. ¿Quién _____ el Presidente de los Estados Unidos? Who is the President of the United States?

eres

soyes

es soy

es

6. Mi hermano y yo _______ católicos, pero mis padres _____ ateos. My brother and I are catholic, but my parents are atheists.

7. El español y el portugués ______ muy similares. Spanish and Portuguese are very similar.

8. El ruso _____ muy diferente al español. Russian is very different from Spanish.

9. ¿Tú ______ de Virginia? Are you from Virginia?

10.Mis padres ______ de Virginia. My parents are from Virginia.

somosson

es

son

eres son

11.¿Cuál _____ la capital de los Estados Unidos? What is the capital of the United States?

12.¿Las Islas Bahamas ______ de los Estados Unidos? The Bahamas are (part) of the United States?

13.Mi esposa y yo ________ de Chile. My wife and I are from Chile.

14.Nosotras ________ chilenas. We are Chilean.

15.Yo _____ bajo, pero mi papá ____ muy alto. I am short, but my father is very tall.

es

son

somos

somossoy es

16.¿Quiénes ______ esas chicas bonitas? Who are those pretty girls?

17.Ellas ______ mis amigas. They are my friends.

18.Los jugadores de baloncesto _____ muy altos. Basketball players are very tall.

son

sonson

FIN