You have been working through a lot of material that includes sorting grammatically correct and incorrect sentences.

Directions: Take a look at the sentences below and create a general rule in your own words that you think could explain what makes a sentence grammatically correct when using the verb SER versus using the verb ESTAR?


Hint:

What do the verbs mean?
What situations are they used in?
Why do you think Ser is used rather than Estar in certain situations?

Note the differences among each of the sentences.

Note the singular and plural.
Use the special phrase: agrees with

Forms of ser: soy, eres, es, somos, son
Forms of estar: estoy, estás, estás, estamos, están



Make your best guess and create your grammar rule, then see if your rule applies to the example sentences. We are not looking for a textbook grammar rule, but rather a creation of your own.



English Right
Wrong

Where is Raul?
¿Dónde está Raúl?

*¿Dónde es Raúl?

Patricia is intelligent.

Patricia es inteligente.

*Patricia está inteligente.

Carlos is Guatemalan.

Carlos es guatemalteco.

*Carlos está guatemalteco.

You are playing the piano.

Tú estás tocando el piano.

*Tú eres tocando el piano.

My brothers are content/happy.

Mis hermanos están contentos.

*Mis hermanos son contentos.