9. Instruction: Questions with Ser & Estar

Asking and Answering Questions with Ser and Estar

Introduction

Now that you have learned how to use ser and estar correctly, it’s time to practice forming questions and answers with both verbs.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
✅ Ask and answer questions using ser and estar correctly.
✅ Use different question structures (with and without pronouns).
✅ Recognize when to use ser for permanent traits and estar for temporary states or locations.

1. How to Form Questions with Ser and Estar

A. Question Structures in Spanish

Spanish questions can be formed in three ways:

1. Without a pronoun (common in everyday speech)
   • ¿Es alta Juana? (Is Juana tall?)
2. With the pronoun after the verb (standard word order for yes/no questions)
   • ¿Está triste él? (Is he sad?)
3. With the pronoun before the verb (less common, but possible)
   • ¿Él está triste? (Is he sad? – with emphasis on “he”)

✅ Tip: In yes/no questions, the subject often comes after the verb in Spanish.

2. Yes/No Questions with Ser and Estar

Examples of Yes/No Questions

✅ Tip: When answering in the negative, use “No, no…” before the verb.

• ¿Es alta Juana? → No, no es alta. (No, she is not tall.)

3. Information Questions (Using Interrogatives)

When asking where, what, or how someone is, use these common question words:

4. Tener in Questions (Expressing Hunger, Thirst, and Age)

Certain expressions use tener (to have) instead of ser or estar, especially for hunger, thirst, age, and physical sensations.

5. Practice Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ser, estar, or tener:

1. ¿________ alta tu hermana? (Is your sister tall?)
2. ¿________ aburrido, Pablo? (Are you bored, Pablo?)
3. ¿Dónde ________ ella? (Where is she?)
4. Señora García, ¿de dónde ________ usted? (Mrs. García, where are you from?)
5. Juana, ¿________ hambre? (Juana, are you hungry?)

Answers:

1. Es
2. Estás
3. Está
4. Es
5. Tienes

B. Convert the statements into questions:

Example:

• Statement: Tú eres profesora. (You are a teacher.)
• Question: ¿Eres profesora? (Are you a teacher?)

Now, change the following statements into questions:

6. Ella está cansada. (She is tired.) → ¿________?
7. Nosotros somos estudiantes. (We are students.) → ¿________?
8. El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.) → ¿________?
9. Ellos tienen frío. (They are cold.) → ¿________?
10. Mi padre es de España. (My father is from Spain.) → ¿________?

Answers:
6. ¿Está cansada ella?
7. ¿Somos estudiantes?
8. ¿Está el libro en la mesa?
9. ¿Tienen ellos frío?
10. ¿Es mi padre de España?

C. Answer the questions using full sentences:

11. ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) → ________
12. ¿Dónde está tu casa? (Where is your house?) → ________
13. ¿Tienes sed? (Are you thirsty?) → ________
14. ¿De dónde es tu mejor amigo? (Where is your best friend from?) → ________
15. ¿Es inteligente tu hermano? (Is your brother smart?) → ________

Example Answers:
11. Estoy bien, gracias. (I am well, thank you.)
12. Mi casa está en el centro. (My house is downtown.)
13. Sí, tengo mucha sed. (Yes, I am very thirsty.)
14. Mi mejor amigo es de Perú. (My best friend is from Peru.)
15. Sí, mi hermano es muy inteligente. (Yes, my brother is very smart.)

6. Summary & Next Steps

• Ser is used for permanent characteristics, professions, and origin.
• Estar is used for temporary states, locations, and emotions.
• Tener is used for hunger, thirst, age, and physical sensations.
• Questions can be formed without pronouns, with pronouns after the verb, or with pronouns before the verb (less common).

Now that you’ve completed this final lesson on ser and estar, you’re ready to move on to practice exercises and quizzes! Keep practicing, and soon these concepts will feel natural in conversation! 🎉