es
ess
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermana es abogada.
A1My sister is a lawyer.
El cielo es azul.
A1The sky is blue.
Este chocolate es de México.
A1This chocolate is from Mexico.
Es la una y media.
A1It's one thirty.
El perro es de Juan.
A2The dog is Juan's.
El concierto es en el parque.
A2The concert is in the park.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Permanent' Verb: Ser vs. Estar
'Es' comes from the verb 'ser', which you use for things that are more permanent or part of something's identity, like your job, nationality, or personality. Think of it as the 'DNA' verb.
When to use 'Es'
Use 'es' to describe what something IS (identity, characteristics), where it's FROM (origin), what it's MADE OF, who OWNS it, and for telling TIME and DATE.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'es' and 'está'
Mistake: "El café es frío."
Correction: El café está frío. Use 'está' for temporary conditions like temperature. 'Es frío' would mean coffee is an inherently cold substance, which isn't true.
Forgetting 'de' for Origin
Mistake: "Él es España."
Correction: Él es de España. When saying where someone is from, you need to add 'de' (from) after 'es'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Events
A tricky one! Even though an event happens at a specific time and place, you use 'es' to describe its location. For example, 'La fiesta es en mi casa' (The party is at my house).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: es
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'es'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'es' and 'está'?
'Es' (from the verb 'ser') is for more permanent things, like someone's personality, job, or where they are from. Think of it as describing the 'essence' of something. 'Está' (from the verb 'estar') is for temporary things, like feelings, location, or conditions. Think of it as describing the 'state' of something right now.
Why do you say 'la fiesta es en mi casa' instead of 'está en mi casa'?
This is a special rule that can be tricky. When you're talking about the location of an *event* (like a party, meeting, or concert), you use 'ser' ('es'). When you're talking about the location of a person or a physical object, you use 'estar' ('está').
Can I just say 'is' instead of 'it is' for 'es'?
Yes, absolutely. In Spanish, the subject (like 'he', 'she', or 'it') is often left out if it's clear from the context. So, 'Es importante' can mean 'It is important', and the 'it' is understood.