Tiny Typo

AlanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Tiny Typo

"Es + adjective [adjective]" should read "Es + bueno [adjective]" no?
Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq team member

¡Gracias Alan!

Corregido.

TomB1Kwiziq community member

I am trying to understand the exception to the rule that está goes with bien/mal which is provided by these two examples:

El arroz con leche de mi abuela está bueno.
My grandma's rice pudding is tasty.

Este niño está malo.
This boy is ill.

Are there just these, literally, the only two exceptions, or is there another nuance at play which means there are a small number of other examples. E.G. if we say 'this food is good/tasty'  - is it because it is our subjective opinion that the food is good that we can use 'bueno' with 'estar' - which might then mean we could say 'the film is good (really enjouable) by using está buena?' or if not this example, another which exists?

Similarly, with the second example, the idea that something is not functionaing properly (ill for a person) - might it mean we could use está mala to mean : My car is 'sick' (broken down) or other examples.

Thanks to confirm this, Tom

MarcosC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Great question Tom.  Hope it´s answered soon.

PS   I´m guessing that it has something to do with adjectives that change their meaning when used with "ser" vs "estar".

InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Tom y Marcos

There are instances when we use estar in a certain context. This is the reason why we have different specific lessons on estar and ser, to see which scenarios/contexts we use with one or the other. 

I'll start with the second example about being ill. We use estar when we are referring to states of mind or physical, and this includes emotions; for example:

Estoy un poco mareada. No sé qué me pasa. (not soy)

I am a bit dizzy/nauseous. I am not sure what it it.

Este niño está malo. Tiene fiebre. (not es)

This boy is ill. He has a fever.

Estoy muy emocionada con la visita de Miguel. (not soy)

I'm very excited with/about Miguel's visit. 

Estamos tristes porque nuestra abuela murió hace unos días. (not somos)

We are sad because our grandma died a few days ago.

These are all using estar because they are all referring to some kind of physical/mind state. This doesn't mean that we can't use some of these adjectives withser. For example you may also hear sometimes say:

Miguel es una persona triste y enferma.

- if we say this, we are thinking of Miguel and these adjectives being adhered to his personality, his character. Maybe you have always known him as that sort of person, always with some kind of health problem and not very cheerful, so you are applying these adjectives to him as something permanent in him. This is not anymore about a specific moment and how someone feels at a certain moment. 

The first sentence: 

El arroz con leche de mi abuela está bueno.

My grandma's rice pudding is tasty.

This is also a specific use of estar.  We use estar to express the taste of something (good or bad taste). Although this sentence doesn't indicate a precise moment, i.e  when you've just tried it and make the nice comment, we still use estar simply because this is what is mainly used with food. 

If we used "El arroz con leche de mi abuela ES bueno.", we woud be referring to the quality of the pudding, more than what you feel/your experience as you eat it. 

I hope I added a bit more clarity to this, although I know ser and estar are really tricky and the little nuances are very difficult... 

Saludos

Inma


 

Tiny Typo

"Es + adjective [adjective]" should read "Es + bueno [adjective]" no?

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