Ser or estar - that is the question!

Ser or estar - that is the question!

One of the first challenges that foreign students face when learning Portuguese is to learn the difference between the verbs "ser" and "estar". 

The basic difference is that the verb “ser” is used for permanent situations and the verb “estar” for temporary ones. What is permanent and what is temporary? That is an important question, and in some situations, it is not so simple. 

One student told me that the famous Shakespeare quote “To be or not to be; that is the question,” should be translated as “ser ou estar eis a questão”. Hamlet, the main character, lives a dilemma: on one hand are his values, the “ser,” and on the other hand is the situation in which he finds himself, the “estar”.

Teachers in general give to the student a list and examples of proper use of these two verbs. For example: we use “ser” with professions, nationalities, and religions and “estar” with temporary characteristics or frame of mind. This explanation is good for A1 students, but it is not enough for the more advanced. 

A special case is when we talk about marital status. The verb "ser" is most often used, but marital status can change, can’t it? So, the verb "estar" can also be used especially when the change in marital status is new or it is something that is going change soon. 

One of the most enigmatic uses is the use of the verbs "ser" and "estar" with the word “morto” (death). It is possible to use both verbs, but the idea conveyed when we use one or the other verb is different. When we use the verb "estar" it indicates that a person who once lived is now dead. The point is we show a change of state from alive to dead. On the other hand, we use the verb “ser” if someone has been dead a long time or for the passive voice as in, “He was killed (by someone).”

Whenever I correct essays by foreign students, this is a common confusion -- when to use the verb "ser" or the verb "estar" regardless of the student's level or nationality. You may know that there are the verbs "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. True. But these verbs are not always used in the same way in Portuguese as in Spanish. For example, in Spanish it’s correct to say, “Canadá está en Norteamérica (Canada is in North America).” But in Portuguese we consider the fact that Canada has always been in North America and no one can take Canada out of its place; so we say “O Canadá é na América do Norte (Canada is in North America).” Or we use the verb “ficar”, meaning “located in” as in “O Canadá fica na América do Norte.”

Do you think it is difficult to use the verbs “ser” and “estar” correctly? Did you learn something new from this article? Tell me in the comments.

Want to Learn a New Language? It’s Never Too Late

When is the best time to start learning a language? My simple answer is NOW. Even an old dog can learn new tricks! In fact, it is never too late to learn and open possibilities in this life, for example, travel, meeting new people and learning about different cultures.

It is a myth to think that children learn a language faster and better than adults. Adults usually have more responsibilities and are occupied at all times with work, family and much more difficult tasks. Children, on the other hand, have a simple and exploratory life. But with organization of time and dedication, adults can also learn. Children may be better at picking up accents, but adults, because they have more life experience, know how to communicate effectively and can be more skilled in understanding complex structures of a language. Adults have more self-discipline and longer attention spans. In a way, any student must adjust a busy life to make the dream of learning a language possible.

Learning a new language is a way to keep your brain active. When we learn a language we challenge our brain, and it is believed that this process helps maintain brain cells and stimulates communication among them. Learning a new language is one of the most effective ways to increase intelligence, keep your mind active, and protect your brain from aging.

What is holding you back from learning? Don't be afraid to start learning a new language, no matter your age. A well-organized one-to-one online course with an experienced teacher can make all the difference. I can help you with that!

What’s the biggest challenge you face in learning a new language? Tell me in the comments.

A Brazilian Way to Say “What’s Done is Done”

In Portuguese there is an expression used to say that in some situations, there's no point taking further action. The sentence is “Agora é tarde, a Inês é morta”. That means, “Now it's late, Inês is killed.” In English, this is similar to “What’s done is done.”

This expression is about Inês de Castro (1320-1355) who was the mistress of Portugal’s Prince Dom Pedro (1320-1367), with whom she had three children.

Prince Dom Pedro’s father, Dom Afonso, wasn’t in favor of this romance and had her beheaded. When Dom Pedro became the eighth king of Portugal, he posthumously granted Inês the title of queen. This honor was obviously worthless to Inês who had already been dead for many years. Thus, the expression "A Inês é morta" refers to actions that are useless because they are taken too late. 

But in fact, the future in full of possibilities. The famous Brazilian medium Chico Xavier had a notorious saying,  "Nobody can go back and make a new start. But anyone can start over and make a new end." 

Time passes and sometimes windows of opportunity are lost. When we see that we did not do what should have done we think, “Agora é tarde, a Inês é morta”. But in fact, for some projects, it’s never too late to take an effective action, and new projects can arise and our paths can open up.

It’s important to know which saying applies to your situation. Can you think of times in your life when the sayings “Inês é morta” or “make a new end” applied? Tell me in the comments.