Ser or Estar

Share on Facebook

Miclus

#5011 Wed, 22 Feb 06 08:20 PM

I have a sentence.

Mi clase está en el edificio A.

My teacher says I should use es because I'm describing the location of an event. But, I disagree. If you look at this in English, which I think is safe to do for this case, you get

My class is in Building A.

This isn't describing the location of an event, it's simply describing the physical location of the class. Now, if you say

My class takes place in Building A.

Then, I could see what he is saying.

What do you guys think?

Miclus

Joined on 16-01-2006

Usuario Principiante (39)

Auser

#5014 Wed, 22 Feb 06 09:00 PM

Miclus

I have a sentence.

Mi clase está en el edificio A.

My teacher says I should use es because I'm describing the location of an event. But, I disagree. If you look at this in English, which I think is safe to do for this case, you get

My class is in Building A.

This isn't describing the location of an event, it's simply describing the physical location of the class. Now, if you say

My class takes place in Building A.

Then, I could see what he is saying.

What do you guys think?

What I usually tell people: Don't translate word by word and Spanish works in a different way than English. Your teacher is right; people don't usually say, "My class takes place in Building A."

Auser

Joined on 17-01-2006

Miembro Pleno (691)

www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

Miclus

#5017 Wed, 22 Feb 06 09:12 PM

Ok. But, say I keep está there. What does the sentence mean?

Miclus

Auser

#5023 Wed, 22 Feb 06 09:33 PM

Miclus

Ok. But, say I keep está there. What does the sentence mean?

Miclus

My class is in Building A.

Auser

Miclus

#5027 Wed, 22 Feb 06 09:44 PM

? I thought you agreed with my teacher who said I should put

Mi clase es en el edificio A.

So, I was wondering what is wrong with

Mi clase está en el edificio A.

What it would mean to you?

Miclus

Auser

#5034 Thu, 23 Feb 06 01:32 AM

Miclus

? I thought you agreed with my teacher who said I should put

Mi clase es en el edificio A.

So, I was wondering what is wrong with

Mi clase está en el edificio A.

What it would mean to you?

I'm sorry I read too fast. I agree with you: should be está.

Mi Clase está en el edificio A / My class is in Building A

Sorry.

Auser

Elena

#5058 Thu, 23 Feb 06 03:30 PM

Miclus

I have a sentence.

Mi clase está en el edificio A.

My teacher says I should use es because I'm describing the location of an event. But, I disagree. If you look at this in English, which I think is safe to do for this case, you get

My class is in Building A.

This isn't describing the location of an event, it's simply describing the physical location of the class. Now, if you say

My class takes place in Building A.

Then, I could see what he is saying.

What do you guys think?

I agree with you. "Clase" can refer to the physical room/place: mi clase está en el edificio A, or to the lesson imparted: mi clase es en el edificio A.

It also can refer to a body of students who are taught together or graduate together.

Elena

Joined on 16-09-2005

Spain

Usuario Frecuente (325)

Klavier

#5065 Thu, 23 Feb 06 04:44 PM

Elena
I agree with you. "Clase" can refer to the physical room/place: mi clase está en el edificio A, or to the lesson imparted: mi clase es en el edificio A.

It also can refer to a body of students who are taught together or graduate together.

In my country we don't say clase to refer to the physical room. We mostly use it to refer to the lesson, and rarely to mean the body of students.

Auser
I'm sorry I read too fast. I agree with you: should be está.

Well, I disagree. To me it should be es.
La clase de Biología es en el edificio nuevo.
It is supposed that the class will take place in that classroom, in that building for a period of time. If you ask Where are the students?, then you answer Ellos están en la sala 509. Or, as Elena says, La clase está en el edificio A.

Klavier

Joined on 23-09-2005

Chile

Miembro Senior (1,014)

Anonymous

#13272 Thu, 30 Nov 06 11:21 PM

YOUR TEACHER IS RIGHT!!

I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GETTING CONFUSED. BECAUSE THE RULE SAYS THAT IN SPANISH YOU USE ESTAR TO TELL ABOUT A LOCATION. HOWEVER IN THIS CASE YOU ARE NOT DESCRIBING A TEMPORARY CONDITION SINCE YOU WILL TAKE THE CLASS IN THAT BUILDING FOR A YEAR. SHE KNOW WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT, BELIEVE ME I AM A NATIVE SPEAKER AND I HAVE NEVER USE ESTA FOR A SENTENCE LIKE THAT.

GOOD LOOK ..

Anonymous

1 2 3 4 5