i found this online and maybe it explains better than in my crappy english icon_redface.gif
The verbs Ser/Estar (to be)
There are two different verbs in portuguese that can be translated to the english To Be. The verb Ser is used to express a permanent characteristic of something. Estar is used for transient forms. This will be better explained with some examples, so here is the present tense of both verbs, plus some sentences using them:
Ser (to be)
Eu sou
Tu és
Ele/ela/você é
Nós somos
Vós sois
Eles/elas/vocês são
Estar (to be)
Eu estou
Tu estás
Ele/ela/você está
Nós estamos
Vós estais
Eles/elas/vocês estão
Examples:
Eu sou Português - I am Portuguese (permanent form)
Vós sois grandes - You are big (permanent form)
O céu está nublado - The sky is cloudy (transient form)
Eu estou sentado - I am sitting down (transient form)
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