Estar in perfect tenses

Want to describe how something is right now because of something that happened in the past? That’s where “estar” in perfect tenses shines. It helps you paint a vivid picture of the present state of things, and it’s super useful for everyday conversations.

The Basics

Before we jump in, let’s review a few key points:

• “Estar”: One of the two Spanish verbs that mean “to be,” used for temporary states and locations
• Past Participle: The special verb form we use in perfect tenses. It usually ends in -ado or -ido.
• The Magic Combo: estar (conjugated) + past participle

The Result is What Matters

When you use “estar” with a past participle, you’re focusing on the result of an action, not the action itself.

• La puerta está cerrada. (The door is closed.) – We care about the current state of the door.
• Estoy cansado. (I’m tired.) – We care about how you feel now, not what made you tired.

Real-Life Examples

Let’s see how this works in everyday situations:

1. Describing Objects

• El vaso está roto. (The glass is broken.)
• La comida está preparada. (The food is ready.)
• Mis zapatos están sucios. (My shoes are dirty.)

2. Expressing Feelings & Conditions

• María está emocionada por su viaje. (Maria is excited about her trip.)
• Estamos preocupados por el examen. (We’re worried about the exam.)
• Los niños están aburridos. (The kids are bored.)

3. Relationships & Situations

• Estamos casados desde hace cinco años. (We’ve been married for five years.)
• El proyecto está terminado. (The project is finished.)
• La tienda está cerrada los domingos. (The store is closed on Sundays.)

“Ser” vs. “Estar” with Past Participles

Both ser and estar can be used with past participles, but they have different meanings:

• Estar + past participle: Focuses on the resulting state.
• Ser + past participle: Creates the passive voice, focusing on the action and who did it.

Compare these:

• La ventana está rota. (The window is broken.) – The result is important
• La ventana fue rota por el viento. (The window was broken by the wind.) – The action and who did it are important

More Advanced Stuff: Perfect Progressive Tenses

You can also use “estar” in perfect progressive tenses to talk about actions that started in the past and continue into the present (or another point in time).

• Present Perfect Progressive: He estado estudiando toda la mañana. (I’ve been studying all morning.)
• Past Perfect Progressive: Había estado lloviendo durante horas. (It had been raining for hours.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up ‘ser’ and ‘estar’
• Forgetting agreement: Make sure the past participle matches the subject in gender and number.
• Using the infinitive instead of the past participle

Forming the Past Participle

• Learn complete conjugations of the Past Participle in Latin American Spanish here.
• Learn complete conjugations of the Past Participle in Castilian Spanish here.

The more you use estar in perfect tenses, the more natural it will become. Try describing things around you, how you’re feeling, or recent events using this construction. With a bit of practice, you’ll be sounding more fluent in no time! ¡Buena suerte!