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.
Pronoun | Verb form |
---|---|
Yo | fui |
Tú | fuiste |
Él, Ella, Usted | fue |
Nosotros, Nosotras | fuimos |
Vosotros, vosotras | fuisteis |
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes | fueron |
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.
Pronoun | Verb form |
---|---|
Yo | era |
Tú | eras |
Él, Ella, Usted | era |
Nosotros, Nosotras | éramos |
Vosotros, vosotras | erais |
Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes | eran |
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.
1. Las muchachas expertas en la danza.
2. Alex y yo amigos de la escuela.
3. ¿Quien la primera en llegar?.
4. Yo presentado al presidente.
5. Este libro muy viejo cuando yo lo ví.
6. Vosotros felices escuchando la canción.
7. ¿Cuándo tu cumpleaños?
8. Nosotros no parte del equipo.
9. ¿Ustedes los dueños de estos autos?
10. Mis mejores amigos no invitados a participar.
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 amigo suyo.
2. ¿ (tú form) el primero en llegar?
3. Él un buen cantante.
4. Ella un buena escritora.
5. Nosotras parte del equipo.
6. Nosotros miembros del club.
7. Vosotros siempre más alto que su hermana.
8. Ellos nunca empleados de ese negocio.
9. Ellas siempre los ganadores.
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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