Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)

by C. A. Toledano

[Footnote 116: Inherence = a fixed state of being in another body. A quality may be inherent "for the time being," as: Juan se ha alistado por dos años, entonces es soldado: John has enlisted for two years, then he is a soldier.]

Estar is used to denote—

1. State in locality, viz., to be in a place, as—

Estoy aquí I am here.
Londres está en Inglaterra: London is in England.

2. A condition, as—

Estoy candado: I am tired.
Está enfermo: He is ill.

SUPPLEMENTARY RULES.

Ser must be used—

1. Before any noun (even if an adjective or article intervenes), as—

Soy negociante: I am a merchant.