Verb charts. Conjugation tables. Irregular forms. If that makes you want to scroll past and avoid Spanish verbs altogether, we get it. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to learn it all at once, and it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
In this guide, we’ll break down ser (to be)—one of the most important Spanish verbs you’ll use. Think introductions, descriptions, saying where someone is from… it shows up all the time.
We’ll focus on the tenses you’re most likely to use, with clear examples and simple tips to help them stick. By the end, you’ll have a solid start and feel more confident working ser into your conversations. Let’s jump in!
What You Should Know Before You Start
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of charts and tenses, it’s helpful to understand why ser matters so much in the first place. It’s not just another verb on a list; it’s one of the building blocks of communication in Spanish. Want to tell someone your name, your job, where you’re from, or what day it is? You’ll need ser for all of these.
What makes the verb ser tricky is that it doesn’t follow the usual patterns you might expect. The forms don’t just change slightly—they can look totally different from one tense to another. That’s why so many people get stuck or second-guess themselves. But once you’ve seen the patterns and used them a few times, it stops feeling random and starts feeling more familiar.
Here’s what you should know before we get to it:
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Ser means “to be” and it’s used when you’re talking about something that defines a person or thing—like who someone is, what they do, or where they’re from. At, BTG Spanish, we like to say it’s used to share descriptions people IDENTIFY with.
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It’s an irregular verb, which just means the forms don’t follow a consistent pattern, so you’ll want to learn each one on its own.
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Mastering ser opens doors to some of the most common phrases and questions in Spanish, like introducing yourself or describing where you’re from.
Present Tense Conjugation of Ser (El Presente)
This is the tense you’ll probably use the most—and honestly, it’s one of the best places to start. The present tense of ser is what you reach for when you want to say who you are, describe someone else, talk about what day it is, and more.
You’ll hear these ser conjugations everywhere: soy, eres, es, somos… They show up in greetings, introductions, and everyday facts. Since ser is irregular, the forms don’t follow a standard pattern, but that’s okay. Once you use them a few times, they start to feel familiar.
Say them out loud, write a few mini sentences, and notice how quickly they become part of your vocabulary. Let’s take a look at what these forms look like and what they mean.
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yo – soy → I am
Example: Yo soy estudiante. I am a student. -
tú – eres → you are (informal)
Example: Tú eres muy simpático. You are very nice. -
él / ella / usted – es → he / she is, you are (formal)
Example: Ella es doctora. She is a doctor. -
nosotros/as – somos → we are
Example: Nosotros somos amigos. We are friends. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – son → they are, you all are
Example: Ellos son amables. They are kind.
To help it stick, try saying simple things about yourself with these forms—like Yo soy estudiante (I am a student) or Somos amigos (We are friends). If you’re still getting used to them, make it visual: write the pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, etc.) and conjugations on sticky notes and put them where you’ll see them often.
Past Tense Conjugation of Ser
Once you’re comfortable with the present tense, let’s look at the past. In Spanish, there are two ways to say “was” or “were,” and the one you use depends on what you’re describing:
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Use the preterite tense for actions or events that happened once and are finished. (Ayer fui al mercado – I went to the market yesterday.)
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Use the imperfect tense for situations, descriptions, or actions that happened repeatedly or over a period of time. (Cuando era niño, jugaba afuera todos los días – When I was a child, I used to play outside every day.)
Feeling a little unsure about these two tenses? You’re not alone. While this post covers the basics to get you started, we’ve got an even more in-depth breakdown coming soon. Want a heads-up when it’s live? Subscribe to our email list and we’ll keep you posted.
Preterite Tense (Completed Past)
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yo – fui → I was
Example: Yo fui estudiante ahí por 4 años. I was a student there for 4 years. -
tú – fuiste → you were (informal)
Example: Tú fuiste muy valiente. You were very brave. -
él / ella / usted – fue → he / she was, you were (formal)
Example: Ella fue profesora por muchos años. She was a teacher for many years. -
nosotros/as – fuimos → we were
Example: Nosotros fuimos vecinos por un año. We were neighbors for a year. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – fueron → they were, you all were
Example: Ellos fueron los campeones en la competencia del año pasado. They were the champions in last year’s competition.
Imperfect Tense (Used to Be / Repeated Past)
Use the imperfect when you’re describing how things used to be, or something that happened more than once over time.
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yo – era → I was
Example: Yo era estudiante. I used to be a student. -
tú – eras → you were (informal)
Example: Tú eras muy curioso. You used to be very curious. -
él / ella / usted – era → he / she was, you were (formal)
Example: Él era mi mejor amigo. He used to be my best friend. -
nosotros/as – éramos → we were
Example: Nosotros éramos vecinos. We used to be neighbors. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – eran → they were, you all were
Example: Ellos eran músicos. They used to be musicians.
Future Tense of Ser
Talking about the future in Spanish is often simpler than you’d think. With these future forms of ser, you can describe what someone will be—whether it’s imagining your dream career or planning for next week.
This tense is refreshingly regular and perfect for expressing future roles, identities, or predictions.
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yo – seré → I will be
Example: Seré médico algún día. I will be a doctor someday. -
tú – serás → you will be (informal)
Example: Tú serás un gran amigo. You will be a great friend. -
él / ella / usted – será → he / she will be, you will be (formal)
Example: Ella será la jefa. She will be the boss. -
nosotros/as – seremos → we will be
Example: Seremos compañeros de trabajo. We will be coworkers. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – serán → they will be, you all will be
Example: Ellos serán famosos. They will be famous.
Bonus: Advanced Forms of Ser
If you’re ready to take things a step further, these advanced forms of ser are worth exploring. You won’t need them every day as a beginner, but they’ll come up often in conversations as you grow more comfortable with Spanish.
Conditional Form of Ser
The conditional tense is all about possibilities. It’s what you use to talk about what someone would be under certain conditions—like “I would be happier if…” or “She would be a great teacher.”
This tense helps you imagine different scenarios and describe how things could be. You’ll hear it often in everyday Spanish when people talk about dreams, plans, or “what if” situations.
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yo – sería → I would be
Example: Yo sería feliz viviendo en el campo. I would be happy living in the countryside. -
tú – serías → you would be (informal)
Example: Tú serías un buen maestro. You would be a good teacher. -
él / ella / usted – sería → he / she would be, you would be (formal)
Example: Ella sería una gran líder. She would be a great leader. -
nosotros/as – seríamos → we would be
Example: Seríamos buenos vecinos. We would be good neighbors. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – serían → they would be, you all would be
Example: Ellos serían buenos compañeros. They would be good companions.
Subjunctive Mood of Ser
The subjunctive is for situations that aren’t certain—hopes, doubts, emotions, or possibilities. You’ll often see it after phrases like Espero que… I hope that…, Es posible que… It’s possible that…, or Dudo que… I doubt that….
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yo – sea → that I be
Example: Espero que yo sea una buena influencia. I hope that I’m a good influence. -
tú – seas → that you be (informal)
Example: Quiero que tú seas feliz. I want you to be happy. -
él / ella / usted – sea → that he / she be, that you be (formal)
Example: Es importante que ella sea puntual. It’s important that she be on time. -
nosotros/as – seamos → that we be
Example: Ojalá que seamos elegidos. I hope we’re chosen. -
ellos / ellas / ustedes – sean → that they be, that you all be
Example: Dudo que ellos sean honestos. I doubt that they’re honest.
When to Use Ser (vs. Estar)
This is one of the most common questions Spanish learners have—and for good reason. Spanish uses two different verbs for “to be”—ser and estar—and they aren’t interchangeable. It can feel tricky at first, but once you know the difference, it starts to click.
Here’s how to keep it straight (especially as you work on conjugations):
Use ser for things that are more permanent or defining:
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Identity and relationships – Ella es mi hermana. She is my sister.
- Origin or nationality – Somos de México. We’re from Mexico.
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Time and dates – Hoy es martes. Today is Tuesday.
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Traits and characteristics – Soy curioso. I’m curious. Ellos son amables. They are kind.
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Permanent states – Use ser to express qualities or conditions that are stable or lasting.
Use estar for things that are temporary or changeable:
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Feelings and emotions – Estoy feliz. I’m happy.
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Physical or mental conditions – Estás cansado. You’re tired.
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Location – Estamos en casa. We’re at home.
Quick rule of thumb:
If it’s defining or refers to permanent states, use ser.
If it’s changing, use estar.
Practice Tips
To get comfortable with ser, practice using it in small, everyday ways. Start with one tense at a time and build from there.
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Talk to yourself in Spanish. Say things like Soy estudiante or Es martes hoy as you go about your day, using correctly conjugated forms of ser. Using example sentences like these helps you internalize the verb forms.
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Write a short journal entry. Just two or three lines using ser in different tenses can help you remember what you’ve learned and practice forming sentences. This is a great way to practice conjugations actively.
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Practice with a friend or tutor. Even a basic conversation helps you see how ser works in real-life conversations and improves your fluency.
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Use an app. Tools like Ella Verbs and Quizlet make it easy to review with flashcards, games, and drills.
A little daily practice adds up fast. With time, you’ll feel confident using ser in real conversations.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide made ser feel a little clearer—and a little less intimidating. From introductions to describing people, places, and plans, it’s one of the most important verbs you’ll use in Spanish.
As you get more familiar with its forms, you’ll be ready to build on this foundation with other verbs and tenses. Step by step, you’ll get closer to expressing yourself naturally in Spanish.
Learn With Bridge the Gap Spanish
Conjugation can be confusing. Learning Spanish can feel like a lot. But it gets so much easier—and more meaningful—when someone’s right there beside you. Being able to communicate in another language opens doors to new people, places, and opportunities you may have never imagined, whether you’re talking to someone from Argentina, Mexico, or anywhere else in the Spanish-speaking world.
At Bridge the Gap Spanish, our teachers aren’t just fluent—they’re native Spanish speakers from Latin America who bring real-life language, encouragement, and cultural insight into every session.
They’ll help you conjugate verbs like ser with confidence and give you examples that show how the language works in real conversations. Plus, they’ll practice situations you’re likely to face day to day, correct you gently when needed, and encourage you when it feels tough. You don’t have to figure it out alone, and honestly, it’s also much more fun and effective with a native speaker guiding you.
Ready to get started? Get matched with a native Spanish speaker and start building real-world language skills—just fill out our quick enrollment form to begin! It’s as easy as that.
