Unit 8.2
Copulative or Attributive Verbs
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Introduction
Form
Copulative or attributive verbs [verbos copulativos o atributivos] have an obligatory complement called an attribute [atributo], a noun phrase or an adjective. They never have a direct complement. The copulative verbs we use are ser and estar.
They appear in copulative sentences following this structure:
(Subject +) Copulative verb + attribute + ….
The presence or absence of the copulative verbs ser and estar depends on the adjectives.
Ser
The verb ser is used:
- without adjectives to talk about:
- possession;
quantities and prices;
cause (with the preposition por);
finality.
- possession;
- with adjectives that can only go with ser (p. ej.: necesario, probable, importante, evidente, propio, etc.).
Estar
The verb estar is used:
- without adjectives to talk about:
- temporal location (dates, months, seasons with the prepositions a or en);
weather (with the preposition a).
- temporal location (dates, months, seasons with the prepositions a or en);
- with adjectives that can only go with estar (p. ej.: contento, cansado, triste, atento, satisfecho, etc.).
Example
Ser:
- Ese dibujo que ves en la pared es la mío;
- Los tres libros son de papel grueso;
- Es necesario tener buena luz para sacar fotos;
- Es importante que mires bien que has respondido todas las preguntas del examen una vez lo hayas terminado;
- Las playas de Bali son muy relajantes, no se oye ningún ruido.
Estar:
- Mi padre está fuerte porque va al gimnasio todos los días.;
- La hierba no va a estar seca para el picnic, está lloviendo a mares;
- ¿Estás contento de volver a estar en casa, le encantan las vistas que tiene desde su ventana;
- Uno de mis gatos, el de color claro, está muy triste últimamente;
- A la mitad de la clase no están mirando a la pizarra mientras la profesora explica.
Use
Copulative or attributive verbs have almost no concrete meaning; they are just a connection between the subject and the attribute and express a state, essence or quality of the subject.
Summary
In Spanish, there are copulative or attributive verbs, which are ser and estar. They appear in copulative sentences following this formula:
(Subject +) copulative verb + attribute+ …
For example:
— «Ana está cansada». = Ana – subject; está – copulative verb; cansada – attribute;
— «Soy profesor de matemáticas». = (yo) – subject; soy – copulative verb; profesor de matemáticas – attribute.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
Exercises
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