Ch 12 · Lesson 17Spanish · Chapter 12 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
Es listo, está listo: adjectives that change meaning
for what someone is like, for how they are now: is boring, is bored.
The short version
is clever, is ready
.
Why?Hide
A few adjectives change meaning with the verb. gives what someone is like, how they are now: is boring, is bored; is bad, is ill; is rich, is tasty. Learn them as two-word chunks.
The meaning-shifting pairs
Some adjectives change meaning with the verb. pulls the adjective into what someone is; into how they are now.
| Adjective | With ser | With estar |
|---|---|---|
| boring | bored |
| clever | ready |
| good (a person) | tasty, well |
| bad (a person) | ill, off (food) |
| rich | tasty |
| safe, reliable | sure; safe (here) |
| lively, sharp | alive |
| green | unripe |
| proud, haughty (a trait) | proud of something |
| quiet by nature | not talking now |
| considerate | paying attention |
Each pair in a sentence:
| Meaning | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| a trait | . | He's boring. |
| a state | . | He's bored. |
| a trait | Ana . | Ana is clever. |
| a state | Ana . | Ana is ready. |
| in general | . | The food is good. |
| this plate | . | The food tastes good. |
| a colour | . | The banana is green. |
| not ripe | . | The banana isn't ripe yet. |
| proud of | . | He's proud of his daughter. |
One warning: said of a person, or is slang for attractive. Compliment the food, not the cook, with .
The cases that break the framework
Three cases look like exceptions until you apply the what-or-how test:
| Case | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| dead: a state | . | My grandfather is dead. |
| happy in life | . | He's a happy person. |
| happy now | . | I'm happy with the house. |
| calendar, idiom | . | It's winter. (we are in) |
| calendar, plain | . | It's Monday. |
and are idioms for where we are in the calendar; the plain statement of a day or date uses : .
Common mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| . | . | description: imperfect |
| . (shut) | . | a state takes |
| . | . | death is a state |
| . | . | for bored, a state |
| . | . | the gerund takes |
| . (now) | . | this plate: |
Going further: The whole system on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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