When do we use these verbs to express "to be" in Spanish?

Ser (to be)

All these verbs can be translated as “to be” in English under certain conditions. However in Spanish we need to know which of these five verbs to use in specific cases. . After reviewing these verbs in the present tense, practice with the Ser Estar Tener Haber Hacer quiz.

The primary meaning of each of these verbs is as follows:

• Ser: To be (permanence)
• Estar: To be (temporary or location)
• Tener: To have / must
• Haber: To have / have to
• Hacer: To do / make

Conjugation

The uses of the verbs SER and ESTAR are covered in exercises 3, 4 and 5.

TENER is used to denote a person's state: I am cold (tengo frío - literally "I have cold"), I am thirsty (tengo sueño - literally "I have thirst"), etc.

HACER is used to denote an external state: it is cold (hace frio - literally "it makes/does cold"), it is windy (hace viento - literally "it makes/does wind).

HABER is used only in the 3rd person singular "hay": There is someone at the door (hay alguién en la puerta), There is no dinner (no hay cena).

Some examples:

• Yo soy feliz. (I am happy.)
• Yo estoy en latinoamérica. (I am in Latin America.)
• Yo tengo frío. (I am cold.)
• Hay muchas personas aquí. (Ther are a lot of people here.)
• ¡Hace calor! (It is hot.)