1. * Dates and days of the week can be expressed either with 'ser' or 'estar'
  2. SER - TO CLASSIFY, IDENTIFY OR DEFINE (Use with nouns)
    1. Defining conditions or characteristics (not necessarily permanent) including emotional states
      1. Soy bajita y él es alto. I'm short and he is tall.
      2. El es nuevo aquí. He's new around here.
      3. Él es de mal humor. He's a bad tempered kind of a guy.
    2. Professions & Religions
      1. Soy maestra. I'm a teacher.
    3. Nationalities
      1. Soy de Nueva Zelanda y ella es francesa. . I'm from New Zealand and she's French.
    4. Telling time & stating the date or days of the week *
      1. Es miercoles el quince de enero y son las 5. It's Wednesday the 15th of January and it's 5pm.
    5. Possession
      1. La cartera es de Juan. The wallet is John's.
    6. What something is made of.
      1. La mesa es de madera. The table is made of wood.
    7. Size & Length
      1. El palo es largo. The stick is long.
    8. Colors
      1. Las rosas son rojas. Roses are red.
    9. Taking Place (to say when or where an event is taking place - this is different from 'estar' for locations)
      1. El concierto es en el centro. The concert is (taking place) in town.
    10. Passive Voice
      1. Este hospital fue construido en el año 1928. This hospital was built in 1928. (Active Voice would say ... So and so built the hospital in 1928. )
  3. ESTAR - TO DESCRIBE SITUATIONS AND STATES IN TIME AND SPACE (Don't use with nouns!)
    1. Changeable states or conditions
      1. La calle está muy sucia hoy. The street is really dirty today.
    2. Emotional states that are changeable
      1. Es mejor no hablar con él en este momento, está enojado. It'd be better not to talk to him right now, he's angry.
    3. Permanent or temporary location/position of people/things
      1. Auckland está en Nueva Zelanda. Auckland is in New Zealand. Pedro está en el baño. Peter is in the bathroom.
    4. States in time
      1. La puerta está abierta. The door's open.
    5. Dates and days of the week *
      1. ¿Hoy estamos a 25 de Agosto? Is today is the 25th of August?
    6. To form present progressive tense
      1. Estoy caminando. I'm walking.