Many adjectives can be used with both ser and estar. There is always a difference in
meaning: ser listo‘to be clever’/estar listo‘to be ready’, somos libres‘we are free’
(e.g. as an inherent property of human beings)/estamos libres‘we are (made) free’
(e.g. on coming out of prison). However, the difference can be elusive to non-native
speakers: es soltero‘he is a bachelor’ (marital status)/está soltero‘he is a bachelor’
(regarded as a state of affairs, see 34.3); es claro‘it’s clear’ (neutral)/está claro‘it’s been
made clear, it strikes one as clear’ (slightly stronger).^36 (p. 212)
(h) With a prepositional phrase which functions like the adjectives referred to above:Estamos de vacaciones. We’re on holiday.
Juana estaba de mal humor. Juana was in a bad mood.
(i) With bien and mal:
¿Está bien así? (see 60.3) Is it all right like this?
¡Eso está muy mal! (see 61.2) That’s very bad.
(j) On its own, estar denotes location or a state of affairs:
Hola, ¿está José? (see 29.8)
Hello, is José in?
Estaban todos mis amigos. (see 38.1)
There were all my friends.Estar 22.2