Answers
Aug 05, 2014 - 06:53 PM
In Spanish, if it's a location, it's always ESTAR, unless it's a event taking place at the location. For example: "el banco está en la entrada del edificio" but "la fiesta es en la entrada del edificio". If there is a fiesta at the bank, you would say something like this: "la fiesta es donde está el banco". The party is where the bank is.
Aug 05, 2014 - 08:14 PM
Maybe I just need to think about it differently. I was under the impression that ESTAR was used for temporary states of location or being, and that SER was used to refer to definite locations. For example, in an early session there was a conversation: Eu estou no hotel com um amigo agora (I am at the hotel with a friend now). Estar is used because the subject is currently at the hotel, but that may change. The conversation continues: E esse hotel é perto (and this hotel is close)? Não, esse hotel é um pouco longe (no, this hotel is a little far). In this case, SER is used because the hotel's location is unchanging. I thought it would be the same in Spanish, but then again, computer is masculine in Portuguese, and from what I've read feminine in L.A. Spanish.
Aug 06, 2014 - 04:33 PM
In spanish, "and the hotel is close" would be "y el hotel está cerca", I confirmed with a Mexican native. Looks like it's different in portuguese?
Aug 06, 2014 - 05:30 PM
Thanks for the Spanish perspective, Fabrice. I had a coworker who speaks Portuguese, but unfortunately she moved away. I may have to wait a little longer for the answer. Merci pour la réponse.