Conditions:
El carro está sucio. O carro está sujo.
La carta está escrita. A carta está escrita.
There is just one important area where there is a significant difference in the distribution of these two verbs in the two languages – the area at times referred to, perhaps rather loosely, as 'location'. You will remember that Spanish uses the verb estar to state the location or position of a person or thing.
Juan está en California.
California está en los Estados Unidos.
Los niños están en el centro.
El banco está en el centro.
In speaking Portuguese you will need to decide whether the location is fixed or transitory. If it is fixed, i.e. geographically fixed, ser will be your choice.
A California é nos Estados Unidos.
O banco é no centro.
If it is not geographically fixed, but transitory or temporary in nature, estar will be your choice.
Os meninos estão no centro.
João está na California.
Portuguese frequently uses the verb ficar in place of ser to indicate fixed location. This is analogous to the Spanish verb quedar (not quedarse) substituting for estar under the same circumstances.
| Spanish | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| El hotel está en la calle quince. | O hotel é na rua quinze. |
| or | or |
| El hotel queda en la calle quince. | O hotel fica na rua quinze. |
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