Well, I started off trying to figure out when to use “esta” and “es” in Spanish. I mean, it was like a total head – scratcher at first. I was just diving into learning Spanish, and these two words kept tripping me up.
I began by looking at some basic grammar books. I flipped through the pages, trying to find some simple rules. I found out that “es” is usually used for permanent or long – term characteristics. For example, “Mi casa es grande.” It’s saying that my house is big, and that’s kind of a long – lasting feature of the house.
Then, I started paying attention to “esta”. I read that it’s for temporary states or locations. Like, “Estoy cansado.” It means I’m tired right now, but this state might change later. I was like, “Okay, this seems easy enough.”
But then, when I started having real conversations with Spanish speakers, things got messy. I’d use “es” when I should’ve used “esta”, and vice versa. I remember this one time I was talking to a friend about a party. I said, “La fiesta es aburrida” when it was just a bit slow at that moment. My friend was like, “Nah, it’ll get better later.” And I realized I should’ve said “La fiesta está aburrida” because it was just a temporary situation.
I also started watching a lot of Spanish TV shows. I’d listen carefully to how the characters used these words. I’d pause the show and repeat the sentences, trying to get the hang of it. I made flashcards too. On one side, I’d write a sentence with “es”, and on the other, a similar one with “esta”. I’d quiz myself every day.
After a few weeks of this practice, I started to get the feel of it. I was making fewer mistakes in conversations. I even started correcting myself when I said the wrong word. It was like a light bulb went off in my head. Now, when I’m talking to Spanish speakers, I can use “esta” and “es” the right way most of the time. It’s been a real journey, but I’m glad I stuck with it and learned these easy rules.
