1.3 Present tense of ser

ANTE TODO In order to use verbs, you will need to learn about subject

pronouns.

A subject pronoun replaces the name or title of a person or thing and acts as the subject of a verb.

In both Spanish and English, subject pronouns are divided into three groups: first person, second person, and third person.

Subject pronouns

1.3 Present tense of serSingular

FIRST PERSON yo I

SECOND PERSONtú you (familiar)

usted (Ud.) you (formal)

THIRD PERSONél he

ella she

1.3 Present tense of serPlural

FIRST PERSON

nosotros we (masculine)

nosotras we (feminine)

SECOND PERSON

vosotros you (masc., fam.)

vosotras you (fem., fam)

ustedes (Uds.) you (form.)

THIRD PERSONellos they (masc.)

ellas they (fem.)

1.3 Present tense of serSubject pronouns

Spanish has two subject pronouns that mean you (singular).

Use tú when addressing a friend, a family member, or a child you know well.

Use usted to address a person with whom you have a formal or more distant relationship, such as a superior at work, a professor, or an older person.

1.3 Present tense of serSubject pronouns

The masculine plural forms nosotros, vosotros, and ellos refer to a group of males or to a group of males and females.

The feminine plural forms nosotras, vosotras, and ellas can refer only to groups made up exclusively of females.

1.3 Present tense of serSubject pronouns

There is no Spanish equivalent of the English subject pronoun it. Generally it is not expressed in Spanish.

Es un problema. Es una computadora. It’s a problem. It’s a computer.

1.3 Present tense of serThe verb ser (to be)

SINGULAR FORMS

yo soy I am

tú eres you are (fam.)

Ud. / él / ella es you are (form.); he / she is

1.3 Present tense of serThe verb ser (to be)

PLURAL FORMS

nosotros/as somos we are

vosotros/as sois you are (fam.)

Uds. / ellos / ellas son you are (form.); they are

1.3 Present tense of serUses of ser

To identify people and things

—¿Quién es él? —¿Qué es?Who is he? What is it?

—Es Javier Gómez Lozano. —Es un mapa de España.

He’s Javier Gómez Lozano. It’s a map of Spain.

1.3 Present tense of serUses of ser

To express possession, with the preposition de

—¿De quién es? —¿De quiénes son?Whose is it? Whose are they?

—Es el diario de Maite. —Son los lápices de la chica.It’s Maite’s diary. They are the girl’s pencils.

—Es la computadora de Álex. —Son las maletas del chico.It’s Alex’s computer. They are the boy’s suitcases.

1.3 Present tense of serUses of ser

To express origin, using the preposition de

—¿De dónde es Javier? —¿De dónde es Inés?Where is Javier from? Where is Inés from?

—Es de Puerto Rico. —Es del Ecuador.

He’s from Puerto Rico. She’s from Ecuador.

1.3 Present tense of serUses of ser

To express profession or occupation

Don Francisco es conductor. Don Francisco is a driver.

Yo soy estudiante.I am a student.

1.3 Present tense of ser

¡ATENCIÓN!

Unlike English, Spanish does not use the indefinite article (un, una) after ser when referring to professions, unless accompanied by an adjective or other description:

Marta es profesora.Marta es una profesora excelente.

1.3 Present tense of ser

¡INTÉNTALO! Provide the correct present forms of ser.

1. Gabriel _____2. Juan y yo (m.) _____3. Óscar y Flora _____4. Adriana _____5. las turistas _____6. el chico _____7. los conductores _____8. el señor y la señora Ruiz _____