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Ser vs Estar in Spanish: when and where something takes place
When something takes place
To say when something takes place we use the verb ser this way:
Where something takes place
In a similar way we use the verb ser to say where something takes place:
You will often find a preposition after ser in these cases to introduce the part of the phrase that indicates time or location (= existence)
Be careful! We are referring here to "events", e.g. parties, meetings, concerts, weddings, exhibitions... and the nuance is to indicate their "existence"; we are talking about the event itself, rather than its physical location. For example:
¿Dónde es la exposición? - Es en el Museo del Prado.Where is the exhibition? - It's at the Museo del Padro.
(an exhibition is an event)
- ¿Y dónde está el Museo del Prado? - Está en Madrid.- And where is Museo del Prado? - It's in Madrid.
(a museum is a place)
An exhibition is an event (es en...), but a museum is a place (está en...)
See also Ser vs Estar in Spanish: Using estar in Spanish (not ser) when talking about locations
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