Making Sentences using ESTAR in Spanish (with audio)

SER and ESTAR are the two forms of the verb to be in Spanish. ESTAR is an irregular verb that you must know as it is really common in the language. In this lesson, we will learn to conjugate this verb and how to make sentences using ESTAR. You will have the chance to test yourself at the end of the lesson with an interactive quiz. Let’s begin…

Introductory video: Using SER and ESTAR in Spanish

We will begin the lesson with a short video explaining the basics about the verbs SER and ESTAR in Spanish. The video includes several example of situations where we might use them. Pay attention to the examples using ESTAR in the video and the main differences between SER and ESTAR. Make sure to stick until the end of the video as it will help you understand the rest of the lesson more easily.

How to conjugate ESTAR in Spanish in the present tense

Since ESTAR is an irregular verb, “un verbo irregular”, it will change depending on the subject of the sentence. The verb ESTAR will be conjugated as ESTOY for the pronoun YO as in “Yo estoy enojado”, as ESTÁS for the personal pronoun TÚ as in “Tú estás hambriento”, and as ESTÁ for ÉL, USTED and ELLAS as in “Él está enfermo”. Remember you can omit the pronoun when making sentences in Spanish, but keeping the correct conjugation of the verb.

For the pronoun NOSOTROS, ESTAR will be conjugated as  ESTAMOS like in “Nosotros estamos felices”and for VOSOTROS we will use ESTÁIS as in “Vosotros estáis felices”. Finally, for the pronouns USTEDES and ELLOS, we will use ESTÁN. Please remember to put a tilde over the right vowel when needed. Here is a picture showing how to conjugate ESTAR in Spanish for all the pronouns.

How to Make Sentences using ESTAR in Spanish

Talking about states in Spanish with ESTAR

One of the most popular uses of ESTAR is for talking about about emotional, health or any other temporary states in Spanish. These states are often represented by words like enfermo(sick), enojado (angry) or hambriento (hungry) that tend to change over time. For instance, today someone might be “enfermo” and tomorrow “saludable”. Moreover, ESTAR will be used when talking about the weather in a specific day, the seasons, days and months. Listen to the some examples of sentences using ESTAR in Spanish to talk about states:

Using ESTAR plus prepositions of place to indicate location

Another very common use of ESTAR is indicate the location of things or people. To do so, we will use ESTAR plus prepositions of place in Spanish to say where objects are placed. This kind of sentences using ESTAR are very useful for giving directions of places as well. Below there are some examples with ESTAR plus prepositions to talk about location, focusing on the conjugations for the pronouns NOSOTROS and VOSOTROS.

Using ESTAR for the present progressive

ESTAR plays the role of an auxiliary verb for the present progressive in Spanish, that is actions in progress for sentences like “Yo estoy estudiando” (I am studying). ESTAR will be conjugated normally for all the pronouns as it was done previously, but the main verb will be used with an “-ando” or “-iendo” ending. Here is the last group of examples of sentences using ESTAR for the present progressive and the weather.

Related Spanish Worksheets:

• The verb SER in Spanish
• The verb ESTAR in Spanish
• Verbs and actions in progress in Spanish
• Adjectives for Feelings and Emotions
• The House and Prepositions of Place
• Common Irregular Verbs in Spanish
• Conjugating Irregular Verbs in Spanish