Work Unit Eleven: ¿Quién soy yo?
One of the things that can be confusing for beginning Spanish students is that Spanish has two verbs that can be translated as "to be," and they aren't interchangeable. In today's lesson, we will focus on one of them, ser, while in the next lesson we will study the other one, estar.| Read, listen and learn in the About
virtual Spanish classroom:
1. You're free to join the class at any time and study on your own schedule. For textbook and other organizational information, see the class introduction.
4. Feel free to email the instructor, although answers to questions of interest to others in the class will probably be posted on the board rather than be sent individually. |
||
As you might expect, you will use both of these verbs often, so it is important to understand the differences between them.
Assignment
Complete the lesson on pages 111-120 of the textbook. As you go through the various uses of ser, try to think about the essential meaning of ser rather than thinking about it as a translation of "to be." This will help you keep the two verbs separate.Be sure to complete the exercises. Although copyright rules and fairness to other students using this book prevent me from publishing all the answers, you can check the answer page to see an answer to the first question in each section to help get you started. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on the bulletin board.
When you are through with this lesson and not before, I suggest you read this article on the differences between ser and estar. It will help prepare you for next week's lesson.
Background
The writers of the textbook have intentionally avoided in this lesson introducing you to the other verb for "to be," estar, although that word has been used in other lessons. I think that is a good idea, for it can help you focus on the meaning of ser, rather than simply its translation.One way of thinking about ser is to think of it as being very roughly equivalent to the verb "to equal." It is a verb used in expressing the nature of something's being, something about an essential characteristic. Often, although not necessarily, ser is used to describe characteristics that are more or less permanent.
Most of the examples of usages listed in the text fit this pattern. For example, if I am a Canadian, to say so describes a characteristic of me, and the use of ser is appropriate: Soy de Canadá. But if I say I am going to Canada, that says what I am doing, not what I am, so ser isn't used. Similarly, ser generally is used when describing characteristics such as personality occupation. So ella es feliz means "she has a happy disposition" rather than "she is happy."
Ser also is used to identify: Este libro es mío, this book is mine. Lucas es mi hijo, Lucas is my son. Su carro es un Mustang, his car is a Mustang.
As the text indicates, ser is highly irregular. But you will find yourself using it or hearing it so often that its conjugation will become second nature quickly.
Coming up:
In the next lesson, we will study the use of estar, the other verb meaning "to be."
 |
Previous lesson |
|
|
 |
