Learning the verbs “hay,” “ser,” and “estar” in Spanish can be one of the biggest challenges for language learners. These three verbs are fundamental in Spanish, but they are used in very different ways than we are used to in other languages, such as English. The main difficulty lies in the fact that there are no direct equivalents in many other languages, making it necessary to understand their nuances well.
The content of this blog article has been adapted for A1/A2 level Spanish.
In English, we only have the verb TO BE to talk about identity, state and existence, but in Spanish, we have to choose between SER, ESTAR and HAY, depending on the context. For example, in English we can say ‘She is happy’ or ‘The book is on the table’ using to be. However, in Spanish, there are clear differences:
- SER: to describe permanent characteristics or identities. Example: ‘Ella es profesora’ (She is a teacher).
- ESTAR: to describe temporary states or locations. Example: ‘Ella está feliz’ (She is happy).
- HAY: to indicate the existence of something. Example: ‘There is a book on the table’.
¿Por qué es tan complicado? Why is it so complicated?
The most common confusion for students occurs when they have to choose between SER and ESTAR, especially in sentences like ‘Ella está feliz’ vs ‘Ella es feliz’’. Why is this distinction so important? Because ‘ESTAR’ implies the result of a process or a temporary state, while ‘SER’ describes something permanent or essential.
For English speakers, this can be a bit confusing, since in English, both ‘She is happy’ and ‘She is a teacher’ use ‘TO BE’. But in Spanish, ‘FELIZ’ is used with ESTAR when it is a temporary emotional state or consecutive to a change, and with ‘SER’ when it is a descriptive or enduring characteristic (as in ‘She is happy’, if we are talking about someone with a generally optimistic disposition).
The importance of practice
The key to mastering the use of SER, ESTAR and HAY in Spanish is constant practice. Remembering the basic rules and practising on a regular basis can help you more effectively; you can take our self-paced basic grammar course here. Here is also a quick rule of thumb for when to use each one:
- Use HAY to talk about existence.
- Use SER to identify or describe permanent characteristics.
- Use ESTAR to talk about temporary states or locations.
For example:
- There are three people in the room (existence) / Hay tres personas en la sala.
- The room is large (permanent feature) / La sala es grande.
- The people are seated (temporary state) / Las personas están sentadas.
Practical learning tips
To improve your use of these verbs, we recommend that you ask yourself some key questions:
- What is in the place? (to talk about the existence of something).
- What does someone or something look like? (to describe permanent characteristics)?
- Where is someone or something? (to talk about temporary locations or states).
Remember, don’t get discouraged! With time and practice, you will master HAY, SER and ESTAR, and you will feel more comfortable expressing yourself accurately in Spanish. Keep learning!
Lala Huseynova
Profesora de español en prácticas
