estoy/estás/está/estamos/están
Estar Present Tense
Match estar to the subject: estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están. Use it for a condition in Estoy cansada and a location in El museo está aquí.
How It Works
Present Forms
- yo estoy
- tú estás
- él/ella/usted está
- nosotros/nosotras estamos
- vosotros/vosotras estáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes están
Keep the written accents in estás, está, estáis and están. Vos also uses estás. Vosotros is chiefly used in Spain; ustedes takes están in every region.
Locations
Use estar for the location of people or things: El libro está en la mesa. A fixed location also takes estar: Madrid está en España.
Conditions
Use estar with a suitable adjective for a condition: Estoy cansada, La puerta está abierta. The adjective agrees with its subject. Duration alone does not choose between ser and estar; changing the verb can change the meaning.
Actions in Progress
With a gerund, estar forms an expression of an action in progress: Estamos leyendo. An activity can be in progress over a wider current period, not only at the exact moment of speaking.
Examples (5)
- Yo estoy en la biblioteca.
I am in the library.
Word by Word: I am in the library.
Used for location.
- ¿Cómo estás?
How are you?
Word by Word: How are you?
Used to ask about a person's current condition or feeling.
- Ella está muy feliz hoy.
She is very happy today.
Word by Word: She is very happy today.
Used for a temporary emotion.
- Nosotros estamos cansados.
We are tired.
Word by Word: We are tired.
Used for a temporary physical state.
- Los niños están en el parque.
The children are at the park.
Word by Word: The children are in the park.
Used for the location of multiple people.
Common Mistakes
Using soy cansado when you mean that you feel tired.
Yo soy cansado.Yo estoy cansado.Estoy cansado describes a tired condition. Ser cansado can instead characterize someone as tiresome in some usage. The choice depends on the intended meaning, not simply how long the feeling lasts.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- soy/eres/es/somos/sonSer Present Tense
Ser identifies or characterizes someone or something; estar locates it or presents a condition. Duration alone does not choose between them.
Foundations - ser / estarSer vs. Estar Basics
Learn the meaning of each construction. The progressive specifically selects estar; adjective constructions can change meaning when the verb changes.
Level 1 - estar + LocationEstar for Location
This pattern focuses on one of the primary uses of 'estar': talking about the location of people and things. It provides more specific rules and examples for this use case.
Level 1 - estar + AdjectiveEstar for Conditions
This adjective construction describes a condition. It is another use of estar, alongside location and progressive constructions.
Level 1 - yo/tú/él/ella/ustedSubject Pronouns (Singular)
Understanding subject pronouns is essential to know which form of 'estar' (estoy, estás, está, etc.) to use in a sentence.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice estoy/estás/está/estamos/están in Bubblegum
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