📘 The Verb “Ser” – Talking About Identity and Origin

 Learn Spanish and Culture – Beginner Level (A1)

By Teacher Laura de Español 🍊

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👩‍🏫 What is “ser”?

Ser means “to be.” We use ser to say who we are, where we are from, and what something is. It’s one of the most important verbs in Spanish!

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✨ Conjugation of ser (Present tense)

Spanish Subject Pronoun	Verb “Ser”	Example in Spanish	English Translation
Yo	soy	Yo soy Laura.	I am Laura.
Tú	eres	Tú eres estudiante.	You are a student.
Él / Ella / Usted	es	Él es profesor.	He is a teacher.
Nosotros/as	somos	Nosotros somos amigos.	We are friends.
Vosotros/as (Spain)	sois	Vosotros sois turistas.	You all are tourists. (Spain)
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes	son	Ellas son bailarinas.	They are dancers.

📌 In Latin America, we use ustedes instead of vosotros/as.

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💬 When do we use ser?

Use ser to talk about:

1. Name and identity:

   • Yo soy Ana. → I am Ana.

   • Él es mi novio. → He is my boyfriend.

2. Origin (Where are you from?)

   • ¿De dónde eres? → Where are you from?

   • Yo soy de México. → I’m from Mexico.

3. Profession or role:

   • Mi papá es doctor. → My dad is a doctor.

4. Descriptions (personality or appearance)

   • Ella es simpática. → She is kind.

   • Nosotros somos altos. → We are tall.

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💞 Cultural Connection

In Latin America, it’s common to say Soy de familia unida (I come from a close family). People are proud of their origins and professions. Saying soy colombiano or soy profesora is part of expressing your identity with pride.

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📝 Practice time

1. Translate into Spanish:

   • I am a teacher. → ______________________

   • You are my friend. → ______________________

   • We are happy. → ______________________

   • She is from Peru. → ______________________

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ser:

   • Yo ______ estudiante.

   • Ellos ______ mis hermanos.

   • Tú ______ de Estados Unidos.

   • Nosotros ______ artistas.

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🌟 Tip from Teacher Laura 🍊

“Ser” is like your name — it tells the world who you are. Practice it every day with your name, your country, and your dreams. ¡Tu identidad también habla español!

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➡️ Next article:

“The Verb Estar – Feelings and Location”

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Con cariño,
Teacher Laura de Español 🍊
Learn Spanish with love and culture