Unit 9 Guidebook: ask how people are
KEY PHRASES
Ask how people are
Hola, ¿cómo estás?
Hi, how are you doing?
Hi, how are you doing?
Bien, gracias.
Good, thanks.
Good, thanks.
Buenas tardes, señora.
Good afternoon, ma'am.
Good afternoon, ma'am.
Buenas tardes, ¿cómo está usted?
Good evening, how are you?
Good evening, how are you?
¡Hasta mañana, señor Pérez!
See you tomorrow, Mr. Pérez!
See you tomorrow, Mr. Pérez!
¡Adiós, hasta mañana!
Bye, see you tomorrow!
Bye, see you tomorrow!
TIP
Tú vs. usted
Tú and usted both mean you. So what's the difference?
Tú is used in friendly conversations.
Juan, ¿cómo estás tú?
Juan, how are you?
Juan, how are you?
Meanwhile, usted is used in more formal interactions.
Hola, señor. ¿Cómo está usted?
Hello, sir. How are you?
Hello, sir. How are you?
TIP
Ser vs. estar
Remember to use estar to describe things that are only temporarily true, like the location of people and things.
Manuel está aquí.
Manuel is here.
Manuel is here.
You would also use estoy, estás, or está to talk about how people are feeling or doing.
¡Yo estoy cansada!
I am tired!
I am tired!
Use ser for more permanent descriptions, like explaining what someone is like.
Mi hermano es inteligente.
My brother is intelligent.
My brother is intelligent.
You would also use soy, eres, or es to say where people are from.
Yo soy de los Estados Unidos.
I am from the United States.
I am from the United States.