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# ESTAR in Spanish: Present Tense, Location and States
- URL: https://www.espanamania.es/gramma/estar-present-tense-spanish/
- Published: 2026-11-01T20:02:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T20:02:59.000Z
- Author: Alexander
- Tags: GRAMMA, A

**Spanish Grammar · Introductory (A)**

Use *estar* to locate people and things and to describe a state, condition or situation. This guide covers the present tense, including the forms used in Spain.

## Quick answer: what does ESTAR do?

**Estar** is one of the Spanish verbs translated as “to be”. Its present-tense forms are **estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están**. It answers questions such as “Where is it?” and “How is someone or something?”

> **El paquete está en recepción.**  
> *The parcel is at reception.*

> **Hoy estamos preocupados por el viaje.**  
> *Today we are worried about the trip.*

Do not treat *estar* as a verb that always means “temporary”. Location uses *estar* even when the place does not change. The useful question is what you want to express: location, a condition or a state.

## 1\. Present-tense forms

| Subject                 | ESTAR   | English                                                    |
| ----------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| yo                      | estoy   | I am                                                       |
| tú                      | estás   | you are, informal singular                                 |
| él / ella / usted       | está    | he / she is; you are, formal singular                      |
| nosotros / nosotras     | estamos | we are                                                     |
| vosotros / vosotras     | estáis  | you are, informal plural in Spain                          |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | están   | they are; you are, formal plural in standard Spain Spanish |

Keep the written accents: **estás, está, estáis, están**. **Estoy** and **estamos** have no written accent. You can omit a subject pronoun when the verb form and the context make the subject clear.

> **¿Estáis en la estación? Estamos junto a la entrada.**  
> *Are you at the station? We are next to the entrance.*

## 2\. Say where someone or something is

Use **estar + a place or position** for the physical location of a person, object or building. Common location expressions include *en* (in / at / on), *junto a* (next to) and *debajo de* (under).

> **La biblioteca está junto al mercado.**  
> *The library is next to the market.*

> **Tus zapatillas están debajo del banco.**  
> *Your trainers are under the bench.*

The library's location may be stable. That does not change the verb: physical location still takes *estar*. The location of an event is different: **El taller es en la biblioteca.** — *The workshop is at the library.*

### Ask whether somebody is there

A question such as **¿Está Clara?** can mean “Is Clara here / there?” when the location is understood. Add the place if it is not clear.

> **¿Está Clara en recepción? No, está en una reunión.**  
> *Is Clara at reception? No, she is in a meeting.*

## 3\. Describe feelings and physical conditions

Use *estar* to describe how somebody feels or their condition in the situation you are discussing: tired, happy, worried, nervous or ill.

> **Después de la excursión, Marta está agotada.**  
> *After the excursion, Marta is exhausted.*

> **Estamos contentos con el resultado.**  
> *We are happy with the result.*

The adjective agrees with the person or thing: **Luis está nervioso.** — *Luis is nervous.* **Sus hermanas están nerviosas.** — *His sisters are nervous.* The verb agrees with the subject too: one person *está*, several people *están*.

## 4\. Describe the state of a thing or a situation

*Estar* also presents something as being in a particular condition: ready, open, closed, clean or hot. You are describing its state, rather than identifying what it is.

> **La sala está preparada para la reunión.**  
> *The room is ready for the meeting.*

> **Los platos todavía están calientes.**  
> *The plates are still hot.*

> **El museo está cerrado esta tarde.**  
> *The museum is closed this afternoon.*

Some expressions describe states that can last a long time. For example, **Mi prima está casada.** means *My cousin is married.* Do not choose the verb only by guessing how long the situation will last.

## 5\. Make negatives and questions

Place **no** immediately before the conjugated verb.

> **No estoy enfadado; estoy preocupado.**  
> *I am not angry; I am worried.*

For questions, use opening and closing question marks. A subject can follow the verb, or be omitted when it is understood.

> **¿Dónde está la salida?**  
> *Where is the exit?*

> **¿Estás bien después del viaje?**  
> *Are you all right after the trip?*

## 6\. Common mistakes

- **Incorrect:** *La farmacia es al lado del hotel.* **Say:** **La farmacia está al lado del hotel.** — *The pharmacy is next to the hotel.* Use *estar* for a building's location.
- **Incorrect:** *Vosotros están preparados.* **Say:** **Vosotros estáis preparados.** — *You are ready.* Match the verb to *vosotros*.
- **Incorrect:** *Las niñas está cansado.* **Say:** **Las niñas están cansadas.** — *The girls are tired.* Both the verb and the adjective need agreement.
- **Incorrect spelling:** *Ella esta preocupada.* **Write:** **Ella está preocupada.** — *She is worried.* The verb form needs its written accent.

## Remember

**Where is it?** Use *estar* for the location of a person or thing. **How is it?** Use *estar* for a state or condition. Learn the six present-tense forms with their accents, and make the adjective agree with its subject.

For identification, characteristics and event time or location, see [SER in Spanish: Present Tense and Essential Uses](https://www.espanamania.es/gramma/ser-present-tense-spanish/).