estar + Participle / ser + Participle

Resultant State Versus Passive Event

Level 6

Ser plus participle presents a passive event; estar plus participle commonly presents a resulting state.

How It Works

La porta va ser oberta describes an opening event. La porta està oberta describes the door's current state. The two can refer to the same real-world situation from different viewpoints, but they do not make identical assertions.

A procedure report may need both event and resulting status. La sol·licitud va ser aprovada dimarts dates the approval event; ara està aprovada describes its status. The passive can identify an agent with per, whereas the state normally foregrounds the current result. Keep agreement with the patient subject throughout: les sol·licituds van ser aprovades and estan aprovades, independently of the agent's gender or number.

Examples (3)

  1. La porta va ser oberta pel conserge.

    The door was opened by the caretaker.

  2. Ara la porta està oberta.

    Now the door is open.

  3. Les sol·licituds estan aprovades.

    The applications are approved.

How It Connects

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estar + Participle / ser + ParticipleLevel 6Resultant State Versus Passive Event

Learn This First

Distinguish the passive event from the resulting participial state. Build a ser passive before contrasting its event with a resulting state.

Words in This Pattern