Plinko grammar game
Ser or Estar: Why?
MediumRead the Spanish sentence and its English meaning, then choose where to drop the ball. It tumbles through the pegs into one of four buckets, each a reason. Land it in the reason that explains why the sentence uses ser or estar. There is no timer, so take your time.
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How to play
- Read the Spanish sentence at the top (the verb is filled in) and its English meaning underneath.
- Four buckets sit along the bottom, each a reason for using ser or estar, tagged SER in blue or ESTAR in green. Only one explains the verb in the sentence.
- Slide your finger or mouse along the top to choose a column (or use the arrow keys), then let go, click or press space to drop the ball.
- The ball bounces down through the pegs. Aim above the reason you want: it usually lands there, but a peg can nudge it into the next one.
- Land it in the right reason to score and hear the sentence spoken; land it in a wrong one and you lose a heart, see the rule, and try the same sentence again. Clear all eight sentences before your five hearts run out.
Questions
Is this ser and estar game free?
Yes. Ser or Estar: Why? plays in your browser, on a phone or a computer, with no sign-up. Sign in only to save the words you meet to your review deck.
Is there a timer?
No. Nothing moves until you drop the ball, so you can read the sentence and think about the reason at your own pace.
What happens if the ball lands in the wrong reason?
You lose a heart and your streak resets, and the game shows the reason it should have been with the rule, for example: ser is for origin and nationality. The same sentence stays so you can try again, but it no longer counts as clean.
Why are some buckets blue and some green?
Blue buckets are reasons to use ser and green ones are reasons to use estar. Each sentence comes with two reasons from the other verb, so telling the two groups apart is the first step.
Does it teach the meaning-change pairs like aburrido?
Not in this game. It covers the main reasons for ser and estar, such as origin, profession, location, feelings and health.
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