Ser vs Estar: DR. ROPPMEET, CLEPPP and Examples
Ser or estar? Use two memory tricks, DR. ROPPMEET and CLEPPP, to pick the right verb, with worked examples and a common mistake to avoid.
SER = DR. ROPPMEET
- Description · Relation
- Religion · Origin
- Profession · Possession
- Material · Event
- Expressions · Time
Fits one? Use SER.
ESTAR = CLEPPP
- Condition · Location
- Expressions · Physical state
- Present progressive · Senses
States, places, and -ing actions take ESTAR.
Example 1
La fiesta ___ en el parque.
- A party is an Event: the E in ROPPMEET.
- Events take ser.
La fiesta ES en el parque.
Example 2
Ella ___ en la fiesta.
- A person's place is Location: the L in CLEPPP.
- Locations take estar.
Ella ESTÁ en la fiesta.
Common mistake
La fiesta está en el parque
Events take ser, even though the party sounds like a place.
Estás aburrido = you are bored. Eres aburrido = you are boring.
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