1. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 1 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Ser is used when Be is followed by a noun.
Es un día bonito.
(It’s a beautiful day.)
Ser is used to describe what is permanent, inherent, or characteristic.
El hielo es frío.
(Ice is cold.)
Ser is used to tell the hour, day, and date.
Es el lunes, el veintinueve de julio.
(It’s July 29th.)
Ser is used to talk about place of origin.
Soy de Chile.
(I’m from Chile.)
.
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D. Sharon Pruitt

2. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 2 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Ser is used to express possession.
El coche es mío.
(The car is mine.)
Ser is used with impersonal expressions.
Es posible.
(It’s possible.)
Ser is used to describe size and physical characteristics. It tells what something is made of.
Esta casa es de ladrillos.
(This house is brick.)
Ser is used to talk about religious and political affiliation.
Son católicas.
(They’re catholic.)
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt

3. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 3 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Ser is used to talk about nationality.
Ella es china.
(She’s Chinese.)
Ser is used to describe relationships.
Ellos son mis padres.
(They are my parents.)
Ser is used to describe personality characteristics.
Ustedes son cómicos.
(You’re funny.)
Ser is used to talk about profession.
Es soldado.
(He’s a soldier.)
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt

4. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 4 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Ser is used to define or identify people, places, and things.
Éstas son flores.
(These are flowers.)
Ser is used to describe the natural color of something.
La leche es blanca.
(Milk is white.)
Ser is used to say where an event is taking place.
La fiesta es en la casa de Paula.
(The party is at Paula’s house.)
Ser is used in passive voice constructions to describe an action by a doer, that is an agent. The agent is introduced
by por.
Los papeles son arreglados por el secretario cada mañana.
(The papers are arranged by the secretary every morning.)
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt

5. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 5 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Many adjectives can be used with either ser or estar. The meaning changes depending on the verb you choose.
Ser Estar
abierto frank open
aburrido boring bored
alegre lighthearted happy
alto tall, high in a high position
atento courteous attentive
bajo short, low in a low position
borracho drunkard drunk
bueno good (character) well (health)
callado taciturn silent
cansado tiresome tired
cerrado narrow-minded closed
cierto sure true
consciente aware conscious (awake)
despierto alert, sharp awake
enfermo invalid unwell
interesado self-seeking interested
limpio well-groomed clean
listo clever ready
loco silly (character) frantic
mal bad (character) sick (health)
molesto annoying bothered
nuevo newly-made unused
muerto killed in action dead
orgulloso proud (derogatory) proud of someone/something
preparado ready, prepared learned
rico rich delicious
seguro safe, reliable assured, confident
simpático likeable (character) libkable a the present time
triste dull sad
verde green not ripe
violento violent embarrassed
vivo lively alive
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D. Sharon Pruitt

6. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 6 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Matching.
Instructions: Match each sentence with the reason that it uses ser. (The answers are on page 9.)
a. Los formularios son llenados por los empleados. __c__ Inherent characteristic
b. La falda es de lana. _____ Hour, date, or day
c. El hierro es duro. _____ Origin
d. Es Español. _____ Possesion
e. Son las cinco y media. _____ Impersonal Expression
f. El cristal es mío. _____ Describes what something is made of
g. ¿De dónde eres? _____ Religious or political affiliation
h Es verdad. _____ Nationality
i Es médico. _____ Relationship
j. Ella es amable. _____ Personality characteristic.
k. Madrid es la capital de España. _____ Profession
l. El baile es en la universidad. _____ Definition
m. Las manzanas son rojas. _____ Natural color
n. Esos señores son protestantes. _____ Location of an event
o. Vosotros sois mis hermanos. _____ Passive voice
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D. Sharon Pruitt

7. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 7 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Letter Tiles.
Instructions: Read the hint. Unscramble the tiles to reveal a sentence. Write the sentence on the line provided.
(The answers are on page 9.)
Example:
(Hint): This sentence tells what my desk is made of.
Mi escritorio es de madera.
1 (Hint): This sentence tells to whom the book belongs.
______________________________________________________________________________
2 (Hint): This is an impersonal expression.
________________________________________________________________________________
3 (Hint): This sentence describes a man with an inherent characteristic of sincerity.
_________________________________________________________________________________
4 (Hint). This sentence describes a family relationship.
________________________________________________________________________________
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt

8. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 8 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
5 (Hint): This sentence describes a friend’s profession as an engineer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6 (Hint): This sentence tells the time.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
7 (Hint): This sentence uses gender to identify someone.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Double Puzzle.
Instructions: Unscramble each of the clue sentences. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to the other cells with
the same number. (The answers are on page 9.)
(Hint): The first sentence is an impersonal expression about the time. The second sentence defines a person by
gender. The third sentence tells what a dress is made of.
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt

9. English-Spanish Helpful Handouts Page 9 of 9
The Uses Of Ser
Las Respuestas
Matching
c
e
g
f
h
b
n
d
o
j
i
m
l
a
Letter Tiles
1. El libro es de la muchacha.
2. Es importante.
3. Es un hombre sincero.
4. Ellos son primos.
5. Eres ingeniero.
6. Es la una.
7. Ella es una mujer.
Double Puzzle
1. Es tarde.
2. Es un hombre
3. El vestido es de seda.
Free handout - http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: Google Images (Creative Commons License) and
D. Sharon Pruitt