estar + Adjective

Estar for Temporary State

Level 1

Estar describes many physical, emotional and resulting states.

How It Works

Use estar with adjectives such as cansat, content or nerviós to describe a person's current condition. Match the adjective to the subject: estic cansada, estem contents. For an adverb such as bé, there is no gender ending to change.

A resulting condition also commonly takes estar: la porta està tancada. This describes the state of the door rather than an action performed by an agent. To describe the closing event, use an active verb or an appropriate passive construction.

Not every temporary fact requires estar, and not every quality uses ser. Some adjectives change meaning with the verb, as in és avorrit versus està avorrit. Learn the relevant combination instead of replacing ser whenever a condition might change.

Examples (3)

  1. Estic cansada.

    I am tired.

  2. Els nens estan contents.

    The children are happy.

  3. La porta està oberta.

    The door is open.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

estar + AdjectiveLevel 1Estar for Temporary State

Learn This First

Make a state adjective agree with the described subject. Identify the subject of the finite copular verb.

Words in This Pattern