sou/és/é/somos/são

Ser Present Tense

Foundations

Ser is the 'identity' verb. It tells us what or who something is at its core, rather than how it feels or where it is temporarily located.

How It Works

The verb ser is highly irregular, meaning its forms don't follow a standard pattern. It is one of the first things you will learn because it is used in almost every conversation.

Key Uses:

  • Identity & Names: Eu sou a Maria. (I am Maria.)
  • Nationality & Origin: Nós somos de Portugal. (We are from Portugal.)
  • Professions: Ela é médica. (She is a doctor.)
  • Time & Dates: São dez horas. (It is ten o'clock.)
  • Physical/Personality Traits: O gato é preto. (The cat is black.)

Pronunciation Tip:
The form é (is) has an open 'e' sound (like 'met'). This is different from the word e (and), which sounds like 'ee' or a closed 'eh'.

To see how this differs from temporary states, check out Ser vs Estar Basics.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu sou brasileiro.

    I am Brazilian.

    Word by Word: I am Brazilian.

    Uses 'sou' to express nationality, an essential part of identity.

  2. Você é muito inteligente.

    You are very intelligent.

    Word by Word: You are very intelligent.

    Uses 'é' to describe an inherent characteristic.

  3. Nós somos amigos.

    We are friends.

    Word by Word: We are friends.

    Uses 'somos' to define the relationship between people.

  4. Eles são estudantes.

    They are students.

    Word by Word: They are students.

    Uses 'são' to state a profession or role.

  5. O concerto é no estádio.

    The concert is at the stadium.

    Word by Word: The concert is in the stadium.

    Special case: 'ser' is used for the location of events (like concerts or parties).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'é' for plural times.

    É duas horas.
    São duas horas.

    In Portuguese, the verb must agree with the number of hours. Since 'two' is plural, you must use 'são'.

  • Confusing 'é' (is) with 'e' (and).

    Ele e médico.
    Ele é médico.

    The accent mark on 'é' changes the meaning from 'and' to 'is'. Always include the accent for the verb!

  • Using 'estar' for nationality.

    Eu estou americano.
    Eu sou americano.

    Nationality is considered a permanent part of who you are (essence), so 'ser' is required instead of 'estar'.

How It Connects

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

sou/és/é/somos/sãoFoundationsSer Present Tense

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