Verbs: Ser, Estar, Tener
Words used with
tener
:
Literal
English Translation
HEALTH - TENER
TIME — SER
To indicate time
in the past always use
the imperfect tense of
ser
--
era
(singular) or
eran
(plural).
. It was one o’clock. Era la una.
It was two o’clock. Eran las dos.
It was three o-clock. Eran las tres.
To indicate time
in the present always use the
present tense of
ser
(
es
or
son
).
Es
is used with one o’clock
because it is singular.
Son
is used with all the
plural numbers.
It is one o’clock. Es la una.
. It is two o’clock. Son las dos.
It is three o’clock. Son las tres.
Present
Past
I am cold.
I am warm.
I am hungry.
I am afraid.
I am thirsty.
I am sleepy.
I have cold.
I have warmth.
I have hunger.
I have fear.
I have thirst.
I have drowsiness.
Yo tengo frío.
Yo tengo calor.
Yo tengo hambre.
Yo tengo miedo.
Yo tengo sed.
Yo tengo sueño.
225
AGE – TENER
In English, when speaking
about age, you say,
I am eight years old.
In Spanish you say,
Yo tengo ocho años.
(I have eight years.)
(See pgs. 35
and 239.)
BOX 2
SER
Yo soy nervioso-a. I am nervous.
Yo soy fuerte. I am strong.
ESTAR
Yo estoy nervioso-a. I am nervous.
Yo estoy enfermo-a. I am sick.
(Temporary conditions)
(A nervous-type person--
Permanent conditions)
HEALTH – SER, ESTAR
(See pgs. 226
& 239.)
(See pages 76-77
and 242.)
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