Meaning and behavior
What does ser mean?
Ser means to be (essentially or identified as). VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
to be (in the passive voice sense); to exist; to occur.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- ser
- Gerund
- siendo
- Past participle
- sido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present, preterite, imperfect.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of ser for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | soy |
| tú | eres |
| él / ella / usted | es |
| nosotros / nosotras | somos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sois |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | son |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of ser is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | fui |
| tú | fuiste |
| él / ella / usted | fue |
| nosotros / nosotras | fuimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | fuisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | fueron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of ser, or for background information.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | era |
| tú | eras |
| él / ella / usted | era |
| nosotros / nosotras | éramos |
| vosotros / vosotras | erais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | eran |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of ser for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | seré |
| tú | serás |
| él / ella / usted | será |
| nosotros / nosotras | seremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | seréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | serán |
Future and conditional
Simple conditional
Use the conditional forms of ser for hypothetical or tactful statements.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | sería |
| tú | serías |
| él / ella / usted | sería |
| nosotros / nosotras | seríamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | seríais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | serían |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | sea |
| tú | seas |
| él / ella / usted | sea |
| nosotros / nosotras | seamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | seáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | sean |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| yo | fueraAlso accepted: fuese |
| tú | fuerasAlso accepted: fueses |
| él / ella / usted | fueraAlso accepted: fuese |
| nosotros / nosotras | fuéramosAlso accepted: fuésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | fueraisAlso accepted: fueseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | fueranAlso accepted: fuesen |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of ser that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| tú | sé |
| usted | sea |
| nosotros / nosotras | seamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sed |
| ustedes | sean |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of ser.
| Subject | Ser |
|---|---|
| tú | no seas |
| usted | no sea |
| nosotros / nosotras | no seamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no seáis |
| ustedes | no sean |
Verified context
Examples with ser
No sé lo que es.
I don't know what it is.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRHoy no es mi día.
Today isn't my day.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRYa no es un niño.
He's not a boy anymore.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Ser FAQ
What does ser mean?
Ser means to be (essentially or identified as).
Is ser regular or irregular?
Ser is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of ser?
The gerund of ser is siendo.
What is the past participle of ser?
The past participle of ser is sido.
How is ser conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is soy, eres, es, somos, son.
How is ser conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.