42.2.1.1 With a transitive verb
As in the examples above, the state referred to can be the result of an action from a
transitive verb (verbs like terminar, ‘to finish’, and vender, ‘to sell’, which require an
object, for instance terminar un trabajo, ‘to finish a job’, vender una casa, ‘to sell a
house’).
El trabajo está terminado.
The job is finished. (it has been finished)La casa está vendida.
The house is sold. (it has been sold)La mesa estaba puesta para la cena.
The table was laid for dinner. (it had been laid)Todas las luces estaban encendidas.
All the lights were on. (they had previously been turned on)42.2.1.2 With an intransitive or a reflexive verb
The state referred to can also be the result of an action from an intransitive verb (verbs
like dormir, ‘to sleep’, morir, ‘to die’, which do not require an object) or a reflexive verb
(for example acostarse, ‘to go to bed’, vestirse, ‘to get dressed’).
El niño está dormido.
The child is asleep/sleeping. (he has fallen asleep)Mis abuelos están muertos.
My grandparents are dead. (they have died)Raquel estaba acostada.
Raquel was in bed. (she had gone to bed)Aún no están vestidos.
They are not dressed yet. (they haven’t got dressed)Note that the construction estar+ past participle with verbs of this kind often translates
into English as ‘to be’+ gerund. Common examples are:
estar acostado‘to be lying down’
estar arrodillado‘to be kneeling’
estar echado‘to be lying down’
estar inclinado‘to be leaning’
estar sentado‘to be sitting’
estar tendido‘to be lying down’Note also that some past participles can be used with either ser or estar, ser to denote
an action or a process (see 42.1.2.3 above) and estar to indicate the result of an action
or a process. This contrast is shown most clearly in the following examples:
Los secuestradores fueron rodeados por la policía.
The hijackers were surrounded by the police. (the police surrounded the
hijackers)
Los secuestradores estaban rodeados por la policía.
The hijackers were surrounded by the police. (the police had surrounded
the hijackers)Describing results 42.2