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SER to be. To be, or not to be?. Let’s talk about 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 talk about 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 • yosoy = I am • túeres = you are • éles = he is • ellaes = she is • ustedes = you are • nosotrossomos = we are • Vosotrossois = you all are (Spain) • ellosson = they are • ustedesson = you (all) are
Atención! • Unlike English, Spanish sentences do not always require a subject. • Why not? The Spanish verb usually 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!
Use DOCTOR to help you know when to use which form of ser. • D- description • O- occupation/job • C- characteristics • T- time/date • O- origin • R- relationship
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, but that means all other verbs will be easier!
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: • soy • eres • es • es • es • somos • sois • son • son
Now, you try using the verb ser. • Usted ____ mi maestro. • Nosotros _____ estudiantes. • Natalia y ella ______amigas. • Tú _____doctor. • Hoy ____ el 2 de noviembre. • Ella ____inteligente. • Yo _____ de Tegucigalpa.