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To be, or not to be?. Let’s start out with one of the most important verbs in Spanish: ser , which means “to be.”. To be, or not to be…. Look at the English forms of this verb: I am , you are , he is , she is , we are , they are
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To be, or not to be? • Let’s start out with one of the most important verbs in Spanish: ser, which means “to be.”
To be, or not to be… • Look at the English forms of this verb: I am, you are, he is, she is, we are, they are • This verb doesn’t follow an expected pattern; in other words, it’s irregular.
Ser, o no ser… • The Spanish verb ser is also irregular. • ser = to be • yo soy = I am • tú eres = you are • él es = he is • ella es = she is • usted es = you are • nosotros somos = we are • ellos son = they are • ustedes son = you (all) are
Atención! • Unlike English, Spanish sentences do not always require a subject. • Why not? The Spanish verb always gives us enough information about the subject, so we know who we are talking about.
An example, please! • Soy de Chicago. • Soy is paired up with yo, so we know that the speaker is talking about him/herself.
And in English? • English verbs by themselves don’t carry enough information to tell us who the speaker is talking about: “Work in Chicago” is pretty ambiguous!
Trust me on this one! • All Spanish verbs change, but fortunately there are predictable patterns. The verb ser just happens to be the most irregular verb in the language. That’s a tough way to start!
So let’s practice! • Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to complete the following sentences with the correct for of the verb ser.
La forma correcta de “ser” • Yo ______ estudiante.
The envelope, please… • Yo soy estudiante.
May I have another, please? • Tú _____ estudiante.
The envelope, please! • Tú eres estudiante.
I’m still hungry! • Mi mamá _____ de México, mi papá ____ de Nicaragua, y yo _____ de Chicago. Nosotros _______ americanos.
Is that your final answer? • Mi mamá es de México, mi papá es de Nicaragua, y yo soy de Chicago. Nosotros somos americanos.
To wrap it up… • Here are those forms again: • yo soy • tú eres • él es • ella es • usted es • nosotros somos • ellos son • ustedes son
Next stop, -AR verbs • You’re now ready to tackle the next group, #3 –AR verbs. • Don’t worry, they’re easier than the verb ser.