Present Forms of Estar

Level 1

Estar has the present forms estic, estàs, està, estem, esteu and estan.

How It Works

Use estar for many conditions: estic cansat, està contenta, estem bé. An adjective agrees with the person or thing described, while bé is an invariable adverb. Accents distinguish estàs and està and belong to their stressed final syllables.

Estar also combines with a gerund to highlight an action in progress: estic llegint. For a plain statement of location, a useful broad-standard model is ser: som a casa. Estar can add a sense of remaining, staying or being situated, and regional usage varies.

Avoid a simple permanent-versus-temporary formula. Some temporary descriptions use ser, and some long-lasting states use estar. Learn common expressions such as estar a punt and estar de vacances as complete combinations.

Examples (3)

  1. Estic una mica cansada.

    I am a little tired.

  2. Esteu preparats?

    Are you ready?

  3. Estem llegint un conte.

    We are reading a story.

How It Connects

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Present Forms of EstarLevel 1

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Understand the state meanings expressed by estar.

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