Subject Pronouns and “Ser”

 What word do you use to talk about yourself?  What word do you use to talk about yourself and someone else?  What word or words do you use to talk about someone else?  What word do you use to talk about two or more people?

 What word do you use to talk about yourself? I  What word do you use to talk about yourself and someone else? we  What word or words do you use to talk about someone else? he or she  What word do you use to talk about two or more people? they

SingularPlural 1 st person Iwe 2 nd person you 3rd person he/she/itthey

SingularPlural 1 st person yonosotros nosotras 2 nd person tútúvosotros 3rd person él/ella/usted ellos/ellas/ ustedes

SingularPlural 1 st person yo – Inosotros nosotras -we 2 nd person tú - youvosotros 3rd person él/ella/usted he/she/it/ you (formal) ellos/ellas/ ustedes - they/ you plural (y’all)

 Use “ellos” to say “they” when the group is all male.  Use “ellas” to say “they” when the group is all female.  What do I use if it is a group of males an females?

 “ellos” is always used to express the word “they” when the group is made up of males and females

ser – to be (permanent) yo soynosotros (as) somos tú eresvosotros(as) sois él/ella/usted esellos/ellas/Uds. son

ser – to be (permanent) yo soy – I amnosotros (as) somos – we are tú eres – you arevosotros(as) sois él/ella/usted es – he is/ she is/ you (formal) are ellos/ellas/Uds. son – they /you plural are

1. Use “tú” when speaking informally. examples: a friend, a family member, someone the same age as you, or someone you are on a first name basis with Marta, (tú) eres de México, ¿no?

2. Use “usted” when speaking formally. examples: with an adult, someone you don’t know well, someone you do not call by their first name Señor López, usted es de México, ¿no? a. Using “usted” shows respect. b. “usted” is often abbreviated using “Ud.”

 “Ustedes” is the plural form.  Use “ustedes” when addressing two or more friends or adults.  Abbreviation = Uds.  Similar to “y’all” or “you guys” or the ever popular Philly slang, “yous guys” ¿Son ustedes de México?

 Vosotros(as) is used in Spain as the plural of tú, when addressing two or more friends.  We will see vosotros from time to time but you will not be responsible for its forms.