The Spanish verb SER - part 2

Beginner Spanish Grammar Resources

El verbo SER - 2

These notes on the verb 'SER' (to be) in Spanish follow from "El Verbo Ser" part 1. and include interactive exercises.

In Part 1 we learned that the Spanish verb SER means "to be" and is used for descriptions that are more permanent in nature such as identity, origin, nature, etc. In part 2 we look at SER in the simple past (preterite) tense and in the imperfect tense.

When we talk about or describe someone, we use the verb SER:

La alumna fue colombiana. The student was Colombian.

Yo fui elegido capitan. I was elected captain.

Los amigos fueron de Peru. The friends were from Perú.

Nosotros fuimos los únicos en el bus. We were the only ones on the bus.

 

The perfect tense (preterite) in general is used to talk about actions that were completed, while the imperfect tense is used to talk about activities or situations that were ongoing. For example: "The bus was waiting when we arrived" - "was waiting" is the imperfect tense, while "we arrived" is the perfect or preterite tense in Spanish.

 

The verb SER in the preterite tense in Spanish

PronounVerb form
Yofui
fuiste
Él, Ella, Ustedfue
Nosotros, Nosotrasfuimos
Vosotros, vosotrasfuisteis
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedesfueron

Here are some examples in Spanish of the common uses of the verb SER: in the preterite tense.

Yo fui la primera en llegar. - I was the first to arrive.

Tu fuiste un futbolista. - You were a footballer.

Este auto fue muy caro. - This car was very expensive.

Nosotros fuimos los últimos en la cola. - We were the last in the queue.

Vosotros fuisteis todos economistas. - You were all economists.

Ellas fueron muy inteligentes. - They were very intelligent.

 

The verb SER in the preterite tense is conjugated exactly the same as the verb IR (to go). So "yo fui" can mean either "I was" or "I went". It is the context of the sentence that makes it clear which it is.

The verb SER in the imperfect tense in Spanish

PronounVerb form
Yoera
eras
Él, Ella, Ustedera
Nosotros, Nosotraséramos
Vosotros, vosotraserais
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedeseran

The imperfect is used for situations that are understood to be continuing or without a particular beginning or end. The imperfect is also used to create the setting for other actions to take place (I was watching (imperfect) the TV when he arrived (preterite)).

Here are some examples in Spanish of the common uses of the verb SER: in the imperfect tense.

Yo era un niño travieso. - I was a naughty child.

Tu eras amigo de mi primo. - You were a friend of my cousin.

Ella era mi primera profesora. - She was my first teacher.

Nosotros eramos parte del equipo. - We were part of the team.

Vosotros erais plomeros antes de estudiar. - You were a plumber before studying.

Ellas eran amantes del cine. - They were lovers of the cinema.

Interactive Exercise 1

1. Las muchachas expertas en la danza. quiz answer

2. Alex y yo amigos de la escuela. quiz answer

3. ¿Quien la primera en llegar?. quiz answer

4. Yo presentado al presidente. quiz answer

5. Este libro muy viejo cuando yo lo ví. quiz answer

6. Vosotros felices escuchando la canción. quiz answer

7. ¿Cuándo tu cumpleaños? quiz answer

8. Nosotros no parte del equipo. quiz answer

9. ¿Ustedes los dueños de estos autos? quiz answer

10. Mis mejores amigos no invitados a participar. quiz answer

 

Interactive Exercise 2

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb SER.

Note: Try to use the correct written accents if you can e.g.: á, é, í, ó, ú, ñ, ü.

If you don't know the correct answer, type '?' to reveal it.

1. Yo  quiz answer amigo suyo.

2. ¿  quiz answer (tú form) el primero en llegar?

3. Él  quiz answer un buen cantante.

4. Ella  quiz answer un buena escritora.

5. Nosotras  quiz answer parte del equipo.

6. Nosotros  quiz answer miembros del club.

7. Vosotros siempre  quiz answer más alto que su hermana.

8. Ellos nunca  quiz answer empleados de ese negocio.

9. Ellas siempre  quiz answer los ganadores.

 

Topics covered in this lesson

Past tense of the verb SER in Spanish. How to conjugate the verb SER. Past tense forms of the verb SER.

Click here for a comparison of SER and ESTAR.

Click here for to learn about the verb ESTAR.

 

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