Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hello,

Can anyone please explain the use of ser in these 2 examples? Both are describing temporary states (I think.) They are from a video that has many sentences to translate..  This seems not to accord with the normal use of ser.

1. No sea tonto.  (I would tanslate this as "Don't act silly." We are not saying "You are a silly person."}
2. Era obvio que el conductor no había sido lo suficientemente cuidadoso.  (I don't think this is a passive construction. Shouln't this be "no había estado"?)

In the writing challenge we are asked to translate: "The Spanish guitar has 6 strings and consists of a wooden box, a neck and a fretboard". Kwiziq's answer is given as "La guitarra española tiene 6 cuerdas y está formada por una caja de madera, un mástil y un diapasón"  and "está hecha de una caja..." is given as an alternative answer. 

I used consistir en instead of estar formada por  or está hecha de. However, if the sentence had been "The Spanish guitar is made of..." I'm pretty sure I would have gone with está hecha de.

So, is my answer wrong? Or, could my answer be considered a third alternative? And could you explain the differences between the two forms, consistir en and estar formado por/estar hecha de, and in what contexts I might use one in preference to another.

Saludos 

In the following quiz question: 

Hola,

Just to confirm, although I think it is implied already - formal usage is with le/les?

Gracias,

In: Level B2, Verbs Tenses & Conjugation, Modo indicativo, Modo subjuntivo, Oración subordinada temporal

1. Cuando is always used with past tenses in the indicative ….
2. If we use past tenses in the subjunctive with Cuando …

There appears to be a direct contradiction above: 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In statement #1, it is stated that Cuando must be in the indicative mood
in statement #2, it is stated that Cuando may be in the subjunctive mood.
James

Re: It is very close to the beach!

Kwizbot                ¡Está muy cerca de la playa! 
You                       !Está muy cerca a la playa!

You could also say:     ¡Está muy próximo a la playa! 

Would it be correct to say: “cerca a” or does cerca always require a “de”

Thank you, Nicole