Gramática: “Estar” con emociones

In this lesson you will learn to describe emotions and states using adjectives after estar.

Before we go forward, let’s take a quick refresher on the present indicative conjugation of this irregular verb.

Like the adjectives used with ser, these adjectives must agree with the noun that they modify and will require appropriate changes for gender and number.

¿Cómo estás hoy?

Estar is used with descriptive adjectives to talk about emotional conditions and states of being.

El gato está tranquilo.

Los gatos están enérgicos.

• Ana está muy contenta y tranquila. (Ana is very happy and calm.)

Note the changes based on gender and number in the following:

• Tomás está contento y tranquilo. (Tomás is happy and calm.)
• Nosotros estamos contentos y tranquilos. (We are happy and calm [if we keep saying it, it’ll come true…])
• Tomás y su hermano están sorprendidos. (Tomás and his brother are surprised.)
• ¿Por qué estáis vosotras preocupadas? (Why are you worried? – asking a group of all females, informally, in Spain)