Question

Prompt
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. Explain in 1-2 sentences in your own words, what you think could be the reason for using the verb ser in a sentence versus using estar, when both verbs mean "to be."

Look at the patterns and make your best guess.

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.