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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn to use the structure estar + participio to describe temporary conditions in Spanish, such as "está cerrada" (is closed) and "están vendidas" (are sold). This lesson explains how participles agree with nouns in gender and number.
  1. They can describe emotions, physical states, or momentary situations.
  2. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
Formula (Formula)Verbo (Verb)Ejemplos (Examples)
Estar + verboCerrar (To close)La oficina de correos está cerrada. (The post office is closed.)
Estar + verboVender (To sell)Las casas están vendidas. (The houses are sold.)
Estar + verboAbrir (To open)La comida está preparada.

 

 

Exercise 1: "Estar" + participio

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

cerrada, preparadas, cerradas, organizada, abierta, abiertos, alquilada, preparado

1. Cerrar:
Las escuelas están ....
(The schools are closed.)
2. Abrir:
Los hospitales están ... todos los días.
(The hospitals are open every day.)
3. Abrir:
La farmacia está ... hoy.
(The chemist's is open today.)
4. Preparar:
Las bibliotecas están ... para el nuevo semestre.
(The libraries are ready for the new semester.)
5. Cerrar:
La gasolinera está ... por la noche.
(The petrol station is closed at night.)
6. Preparar:
El hospital está ... para emergencias.
(The hospital is prepared for emergencies.)
7. Organizar:
La oficina de correos está ....
(The post office is organised.)
8. Alquilar:
La oficina está ....
(The office is rented.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. La biblioteca _____ abierta durante el día.

(The library _____ open during the day.)

2. Las oficinas de correos _____ cerradas los domingos.

(The post offices _____ closed on Sundays.)

3. La farmacia _____ abierta hasta las nueve de la noche.

(The pharmacy _____ open until nine at night.)

4. El banco _____ cerrado por la tarde.

(The bank _____ closed in the afternoon.)

5. Las urgencias del hospital _____ abiertas todo el día.

(The hospital emergency room _____ open all day.)

6. La panadería _____ cerrada hoy por mantenimiento.

(The bakery _____ closed today for maintenance.)

Understanding the Construction: Estar + Past Participle

This lesson covers the use of the verb estar combined with past participles in Spanish. This structure is essential for describing temporary states or conditions of people, objects, or places. At an A1 level, learners will understand how to form and use this construction to express statuses such as whether something is open, closed, prepared, or sold.

Key Points About "Estar + Past Participle"

  • Purpose: To express temporary states or conditions.
  • Examples: La oficina de correos está cerrada. (The post office is closed.)
  • Agreement: The past participle must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example, Las casas están vendidas. (The houses are sold.)
  • Common verbs: cerrar (to close), vender (to sell), preparar (to prepare), abrir (to open).

Structure Overview

The formula is:

Estar + past participle

Where estar is conjugated according to the subject, and the past participle modifies the subject, agreeing in gender and number.

Examples to Remember

  • La oficina de correos está cerrada.
  • Las casas están vendidas.
  • La comida está preparada.

Comparing English and Spanish Usage

In English, we often use the verb "to be" with past participles to form passive structures or describe states, such as "The post office is closed." Spanish uses estar plus the past participle similarly to emphasize temporary conditions whereas ser (another verb for "to be") is used for permanent characteristics. This lesson focuses on estar because it highlights changeable states.

Useful phrases to note:

  • Estar cerrado/a/os/as – to be closed
  • Estar abierto/a/os/as – to be open
  • Estar preparado/a/os/as – to be prepared
  • Estar vendido/a/os/as – to be sold

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