"Ser" y "Estar" are both translated into the verb "to be" but have diferent meaning and may have no relation between them in spanish! "Ser" indicates the nature, and qualities of things Yo "soy" hombre. Tu "eres" mujer . "Estar" indicates the place or present state of things Yo "estoy" escribiendo. Yo "estoy" sentado Tu "estás" leyendo. Tu "estas" aprendiendo "Estar" as you can see cam be an auxiliar verb to indicate the progresive nature of the other verb similar to the ending "ing" i english! A bientôt!

"Estar" es sobre el estado actual de una cosa. "Ser" es sobre el estado natural de una cosa, describe una cosa en su esencia. Ejemplos: Maria es linda. -> Maria es y siempre fue linda. Maria estar linda. -> En aquelle momento Maria estaba linda. Hoy estoy tranquilo. -> no soy tranquilo, pero en este momento estoy tranquilo. Yo soy tranquilo. -> yo en mi estado natural soy tranquilo.

Oh gosh. We're just going over this in class actually. There are more reasons to use "Ser" than there are to use "Estar", which are; (For Ser) 1) Physical description, personality and character, nationality, race, gender, profession, origen, and anything else pertinent to your Identity 2) Things which "Take Place" or "Occur": Dates, days, seasons, time, events, concerts, parties 3) What things are made of 4) Possession Estar is used with 1) Feelings/emotions, physical conditions or appearances, civil status (married, single, divorced, dead) 2) Location of things and people (not events) 3) Present Progressive tense (the immediate "-ing" form) Hoped this helped!!

"Ser" refers to being someting (young, old, male, female, rich, poor, latin, oriental, ect.). Examples: María es una joven latina. = María is a young latin woman. Yo soy puertorriqueño. = I am Puerto Rican. Ellos son italianos. = They are Italians. Nosotros somos estudiantes. = We are students. "Estar" refers to be somewhere (in school, in the office, etc.), in some physical, mental, or emotional state (sick, tired, confused, sad, happy, ect.), or doing something (working, resting, playing, etc.). Examples: María está en la playa. = María is in the beach. Ella está contenta. = She is glad. Felipe está confundido. = Felipe is confused. Yo estoy estudiando. = I am studying. Mis hermanos están trabajando. = My brothers are working. Nosotros estamos aprendiendo español. = We are learning Spanish.

Correction: "Ser" refers to being something (young, old, male, female, rich, poor, latin, oriental, ect.).