español · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Ser in the present
Introduce identity, origin, and defining qualities with confidence.
Understand the choice
Ser is one of the first verbs to own completely. Its six present forms are irregular, so learn them by person and attach each one to identity, origin, profession, or a defining description.
Core rule: Use ser for identity, origin, profession, defining characteristics, and time: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son.
Notice it in context
Soy estudiante y soy de Polonia.
I am a student and I am from Poland.
Soy matches the omitted subject yo; repeating soy is natural when it introduces a second description.
¿Eres médica o enfermera?
Are you a doctor or a nurse?
Eres is the familiar singular tú form.
Mis vecinos son muy amables.
My neighbors are very kind.
Son matches the plural subject mis vecinos.
What to remember
- Spanish often omits the subject pronoun because the verb ending identifies the person.
- Use somos for nosotros or nosotras and son for ellos, ellas, and ustedes.
Common trap: Do not use ser for a temporary condition or a location simply because English uses be; those meanings usually need estar.