ser and estar — two verbs "to be"
English has one to be. Catalan has two, and you pick by what you mean. For example: “Sóc rus” — I am Russian (that is what I always am). A rule from the Catalan course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
English has one to be. Catalan has two, and you pick by what you mean.
ser is what someone or something always is: job, origin, character. Its forms are sóc, ets, és.
estar is state and place: where you are, how you feel now. Estic bé — I am fine.
The trap sits in one word. És avorrit — he is a boring man. Està avorrit — he is bored right now.
Table
| ser | estar | |
|---|---|---|
| jo | sóc | estic |
| tu | ets | estàs |
| ell / ella / vostè | és | està |
| nosaltres | som | estem |
| ells / vostès | són | estan |
By example
- Sóc rusI am Russian (that is what I always am)
- Estic béI am well (right now)
- El cafè està calentThe coffee is hot (right now)
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
ser and estar — two verbs "to be": how does it work in Catalan?
English has one to be. Catalan has two, and you pick by what you mean.
What does it look like in an example sentence Catalan?
“Sóc rus” — I am Russian (that is what I always am). A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.