By Don Pablo
As a follow-up to my recent post about SER and ESTAR, consider these uses of both verbs with the same adjectives and how they differ in meaning:
SER ESTAR
bueno – to be good (by nature) bueno – to be well (ie in good health)
malo – to be bad (by nature) malo – to be ill
muerto – to be killed muerto – to be dead
vivo – to be lively (by nature) vivo – to be alive
aburrido – to be boring (by nature) aburrido – to be bored
cansado – to be tiresome cansado – to be tired
divertido – to beamusing divertido – to be amused
guapo – to be good-looking (inherently) guapo – to look good (today)
listo – to be clever listo – to be ready
Acknowledgement:
Advanced Spanish Course, K Mason (Pergamon 1967)
© Don Pablo
About Don Pablo
Don Pablo is a former languages teacher, schools adviser and OfSTED inspector in the UK.
In days gone by in Spain, as a mark of respect teachers were addresed as don or doña plus their forename, eg Doña Isabel, Don Pablo.
Tags: aburrido, alive, amused, amusing, bad, bored, boring, Bueno, cansado, clever, dead, divertido, good, good health, good-looking, guapo, ill, killed, listo, lively, malo, muerto, tired, tiresome, vivo, well,