1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject (Personal) Pronouns
Los Pronombres Personales
1.3 Present tense of ser
NTE TODO
Subject pronouns
 In order to use verbs, you will need to learn about
subject pronouns.
 A subject pronoun replaces the name or title of a
person or thing and acts as the subject of a verb.
 In both Spanish and English, subject pronouns are
divided into three groups: first person, second person,
and third person.
1.3 Present tense of ser
Singular
FIRST PERSON
yo
I
tú
you (familiar)
usted (Ud.)
you (formal)
él
he
ella
she
SECOND PERSON
THIRD PERSON
1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
 Spanish has two subject pronouns that mean you
(singular).
 Use tú when addressing a friend, a family member, or a
child you know well. (first name basis) We call this
friendly or informal.
 Use usted to address a person with whom you have a
formal or more distant relationship, such as a superior
at work, a professor, or an older person. (last name
basis, usually with a title) We call this polite or formal.
1.3 Present tense of ser
Plural
nosotros
we (masculine)
nosotras
we (feminine)
vosotros
you (masc., fam.)
vosotras
you (fem., fam)
FIRST PERSON
SECOND PERSON
ustedes
(Uds.)
you (form.)
ellos
they (masc.)
ellas
they (fem.)
THIRD PERSON
1.3 Present tense of ser
 In English, we do not have a plural form of
“you.” That is why we hear some people
try to create a plural form by saying: “you
all,” “yous,” or “ yunzes.”
1.3 Present tense of ser
Subject pronouns
 The masculine plural forms nosotros, vosotros, and
ellos refer to a group of males or to a group of males
and females. (Very macho)
 The feminine plural forms nosotras, vosotras, and
ellas can refer only to groups made up exclusively of
females.
1.3 Present tense of ser
 In Latin America and throughout a great
deal of Spain, there is only one plural form
of “you.” (ustedes/Uds.)
 In a small part of Spain, there are two
plural forms of “you.” They use
ustedes/Uds. to be polite and
Vosotros/Vosotras when being friendly.
1.3 Present tense of ser
 When expressing “you” plural (You all):
 Ud. + Ud. = Uds.
 Ud. + tú = Uds.
• Tú+ tú = Vosotros (by some speakers)
 Tú + Tú = Uds. (by most speakers)
1.3 Present tense of ser
 OJO: Although usted (Ud.) refers to the
second person singular and ustedes
(Uds.) refers to the second person plural,
they take the same verb conjugations as
the third person singular and plural.
 Yo
Nosotros (as)
 Tú
Vosotros (as)
 Ud., Él, Ella
Uds., Ellos, Ellas
1.3 Present tense of ser
 There is no Spanish equivalent of the English subject
pronoun it. Generally it is not expressed in Spanish.
 Instead, the third person singular form of a verb is
used.
Es un problema.
Es una computadora.
It’s a problem. = Is a problem.
It’s a computer. = Is a computer..