ser + Profession/Origin

Identity and Origin with Ser

Level 2

Ser identifies a person or thing and places it in a category.

How It Works

Use ser when saying who someone is or what something is: és la Júlia, és una escola. A profession or role used simply as a category often has no article: és professora, som estudiants.

For origin, add de to ser: som de Reus. With an adjective of nationality or origin, omit de and make the adjective agree: som catalanes. These are different structures expressing related information.

In an introduction, soc la Marta can include the personal article used in many Catalan varieties; other varieties commonly omit it. A profession used as a simple category normally has no indefinite article, as in és metgessa. An expanded descriptive phrase can have one: és una metgessa excel·lent. Keep regional name-article choices separate from the grammar of profession statements.

Examples (3)

  1. Soc la Marta i soc de Girona.

    I am Marta, and I am from Girona.

  2. La meva germana és metgessa.

    My sister is a doctor.

  3. Som estudiants catalanes.

    We are Catalan students.

How It Connects

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ser + Profession/OriginLevel 2Identity and Origin with Ser

Learn This First

Use ser for identity and profession. Express origin with ser de.

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