36.3 Describing a state or condition
36.3.1 To refer to a state or condition of the subject noun, instead of to its properties, use estar
rather than ser (see 22 ).
Alfonso está contento.
Alfonso is happy.El cine estaba lleno.
The cinema was full.Tu coche está estupendo.
Your car is in perfect condition.Fernando está enfermo. Fernando is ill.
Mis padres están bien. My parents are well.
Estaba loco. He was mad.Sometimes, we may wish to emphasize a particular state or condition of the subject,
which is also considered as a property of this, for exampleElena está muy guapa.
Elena looks very pretty (a state or condition).Elena es muy guapa.
Elena is very pretty (a physical property).36.3.2 To ask how someone is or was we use the construction¿cómo+estar+ noun?
¿Cómo está tu hermana? How is your sister?
¿Cómo están tus hijos? How are your children?
¿Cómo estaba José? How was José?Now consider these sentences which show the contrast between this construction and
the one under 36.2 above:¿Cómo es tu amigo?
What is your friend like?¿Cómo está tu amigo?
How is your friend?¿Cómo eran tus abuelos?
What were your grandparents like?¿Cómo estaban tus abuelos?
How were your grandparents?^22 (p. 103); 17.3.1 (p. 74)
36.4 Descriptions involving an unspoken comparison
Descriptions of this kind, which involve some form of comparison of the subject as
seen at different moments in time, require the use of estar:Descriptions involving an unspoken comparison 36.4