ser vs estar with adjectives
listo vs listo, verde vs verde
By Fabling Editorial · How we design our guides
Compare Spanish adjectives whose meaning changes with ser and estar, including listo, aburrido, bueno, and verde.
listo vs listo, verde vs verde
Ser and estar can give an adjective different meanings: es aburrido means he is boring, while está aburrido means he is bored. Other pairs include listo, bueno, malo, and verde.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
Use it in a conversation
Read the whole sentence. Ser listo describes someone as clever; estar listo means ready. These contrasts are common uses, not a guarantee that every adjective has exactly two fixed translations.
El profesor es aburrido. Los alumnos están aburridos.
The teacher is boring. The students are bored.
La pera es verde, pero no está verde: ya está madura.
The pear is green in color, but it is not unripe: it is already ripe.
Luis es bueno con los niños. La sopa está buena.
Luis is good with children. The soup tastes good.
Common mix-ups
Estar listo means being ready. Ser listo describes someone as clever.
Juan is ready to leave.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in Spanish before opening the example.
Laura is clever, but she is not ready yet. Use listo in both clauses.
Show one possible answer
Laura es lista, pero todavía no está lista.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
Keep practicing
Related grammar
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