¡Sí puedo! Can-Do Statements

Identify the correct conjugations of the verb ser (to be).

 El verbo ser

Sign reading: soy professora mis alumn@s no son números

aumento = increase; las aulas: classrooms

The verb ser means to be. Just as the be verb in English (I am, you are, he/she is…), the verb ser is very irregular in all tenses. Therefore, it is important to memorize it! You need to change the verb depending on the subject, like the example below, which is an example of conjugating.

 

Examples of conjugating with singular subjects:

Yo soy
I am

Tú eres
You are

Él es / Ella es / Usted es
He is / She is / You (formal) are



Examples of conjugating with plural subjects:

Nosotros somos
We are

Vosotros sois*
You are

ellos son / ellas son / ustedes son
They are (all masculine  or masculine and feminine) / They are (all feminine) / You all are



ser (to be)

Singular

yo soy
tú eres
él es / ella es / usted es


Plural

nosotros somos
vosotros sois*
ellos son / ellas son / ustedes son


* This form is only used in Spain. The Latin American equivalent is ustedes son

Photo of graffiti which reads: tu eres lo que ves

lo que = what/ that which; ver (tú ves)=to watch, see

Using ser
Up to this point, you have seen ser used in the following ways:

 

  • to identify someone/something
    • Yo soy Manuel. Yo soy María.
    • Es mi cuaderno.
  • to ask or say where someone is from
    • A: ¿De dónde son ustedes?
    • B: Nosotros somos de los Estados Unidos.
  • To ask and say your profession
    • A: ¿Eres profesor?
    • B: No, yo soy estudiante.

You may also have seen ser used to describe something or someone. We will cover this in the next chapter!

  • El cuaderno es rojo.
  • La profesora es inteligente.

Inténtalo (Try It)

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