Answers
May 14, 2015 - 08:54 PM
There is vocês estão (you(p) are) and eles and elas estão (they are). These are conjugations of the verb estar. There is vocês são (you(p) are) and eles and elas são (they are). These are conjugations of the verb ser. Estar (to be) is used mostly in Portuguese for temporary situations, whereas 'Ser' (to be) is used mostly for permanent situations. You would say, "Eles estão nos Estados Unidos - They are in the United States", but you would say, "Eles são dos Estados Unidos - They are from the United States".
In the first instance, 'Estar' is used because "They are in the United States" is a temporary condition, whereas in the second instance, 'Ser' is used because "They are from the United States" is a permanent condition.
Determining when to use 'Estar' and when to use 'Ser' is something that causes learners of Portuguese, as well as Spanish, some difficulty.
In the first instance, 'Estar' is used because "They are in the United States" is a temporary condition, whereas in the second instance, 'Ser' is used because "They are from the United States" is a permanent condition.
Determining when to use 'Estar' and when to use 'Ser' is something that causes learners of Portuguese, as well as Spanish, some difficulty.