In Spanish, the verb "ser" is an important word. It means "to be." We use it to talk about things that don’t change, like who we are, where we come from, and what time it is.

Here’s a simple guide to using "ser" in the present tense.

Conjugation of "Ser" in Present Tense

Here are the different forms of "ser" that you can use:

• Yo soy (I am)
• Tú eres (You are - informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted es (He/She/You formal is)
• Nosotros/Nosotras somos (We are)
• Vosotros/Vosotras sois (You all are - informal in Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son (They/You all formal are)

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns help you know which version of the verb to use. Here’s a quick list:

• Yo (I)
• Tú (You - informal)
• Él (He)
• Ella (She)
• Usted (You - formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras (We - masculine/feminine)
• Vosotros/Vosotras (You all - masculine/feminine, informal in Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas (They - masculine/feminine)
• Ustedes (You all - formal)

Using Articles

When you describe something, use specific articles (like "el" or "la") for things that are unique. Use general articles (like "un" or "una") for broader things:

• El libro (the book - masculine)
• La casa (the house - feminine)
• Un perro (a dog - masculine)
• Una gata (a cat - feminine)

Simple Negative Sentences

To make a simple negative sentence, add "no" before the verb:

• No soy alto. (I am not tall.)
• No eres de España. (You are not from Spain.)

Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive tense tells us about actions happening right now. To do this, use "estar" with a verb ending in -ando or -iendo:

• Estoy hablando. (I am talking.)
• Estás comiendo. (You are eating.)

With these simple rules, you can start making sentences to describe yourself and the world around you!