Make Teaching Ser vs Estar Easy with These Two Acronyms

At a certain point, students notice that they have learned two different verbs for "to be". 

¿Cómo estás? Estoy bien.

How are you? I am good.

¿De dónde eres? Soy de California.

Where are you from? I am from California.

I use two acronyms to help students understand when to use these two verbs. 

And I change up the acronyms slightly depending on what my curriculum requires or what students already know. 

Ser

I use the acronym DOCTOR across all levels to teach when to use ser. 

Description

Example: Me gusta este libro porque es interesante. 

This reason is very similar to "Characteristic". Basically any (permanent) adjectives are a description.

Origin

Example: Yo soy de España.

Any time you state where someone is from, use ser.

Characteristic

Example: Mi carro es pequeño y rojo.

Any time you describe someone or something with (permanent) adjectives, use ser.

Time, date

Example: Hoy es lunes y son las 2 de la tarde.

Expressing the time and date always uses ser.

Occupation

Example: Mi padre es abogado.

Stating someone's job is always with ser.

Relationship

Example: Paco es mi mejor amigo.

Stating the relationship between two people is always with ser.

Estar

I use either the acronym HELP or PLACE when I teach when to use estar, depending on what students already know.

I use the acronym HELP when students DON'T know the present progressive yet.

Health

Example: Yo estoy enfermo.

Stating how someone feels (good, bad, sick, etc) always uses estar.

Emotion

Example: María está enojada.

Stating how someone feels (happy, sad, angry, etc) always uses estar.

Location

Example: Pedro está en la clase de español.

Stating where someone or something is located uses estar. 

Position

Example: Los libros están debajo de la mesa.

Using prepositions of location will always use estar. 

I use the acronym PLACE when students DO know the present progressive.

Position

Example: Los libros están debajo de la mesa.

Using prepositions of location will always use estar. 

This is exactly the same reason as in HELP.

Location

Example: Pedro está en la clase de español.

Stating where someone or something is located uses estar. 

This is exactly the same reason as in HELP.

Action

Example: Yo estoy leyendo el libro.

The present progressive always uses estar. 

Condition

Example: María está enojada.

Stating how someone feels (happy, sad, angry, etc) always uses estar. This reason includes any (impermanent) adjectives - health and emotion.

Location

Example: Pedro está en la clase de español.

Stating where someone or something is located uses estar. This reason also includes prepositions of location.

This is exactly the same reason as in HELP.

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All activities in this lesson are in the present tense only. 

Activities include:

• choose between a form of ser or estar to complete each sentence and write why from DOCTOR and HELP
• fill in the blanks with the correct form of ser or estar to complete each sentence and write why from DOCTOR and HELP
• fill in the blanks with the correct for of ser or estar
• translate the bold English word into Spanish

Do you use acronyms to teach ser vs estar? Share in the comments!