SPANISH 406
Semantic Value of Adjectives with SER & ESTAR

The following are the usual semantic values and translations of certain adjectives in copulative constructions with SER and ESTAR, respectively. In view of what you know about SER and ESTAR, and about the constructions in which they are used, how do you explain these semantic values? How are the semantic values and translations related to the aspectual character of each of the two verbs?

ADJECTIVE                WITH  SER                                     WITH ESTAR

aburrido                           boring                                                  bored; uncharacteristically boring

alto                                     tall, high                                              in a high location; unexpectedly or recently tall

apagado                          quiet, unexciting                              extinguished (fire or light); uncharacteristically quiet

borracho                         (a) drunkard                                       intoxicated

bueno                               essentially good;                              sexy, attractive, desirable (person); tastes good (food);
                                            favorable, advisable                      well after having been ill; ironic (”estarķa bueno!).
                         
callado                              taciturn                                               silent at the moment

cansado                           tiresome                                              tired

consciente                      aware, cognizant                              conscious; recently aware; aware because of a particular                                                                                                                     stimulus

desgraciado                  wretched, a wretch                           unfortunate, down on one's luck

despierto                        alert, sharp                                          awake

divertido                         funny, amusing                                   amused; amusing on a short-term basis

enfermo                          sickly                                                      sick

feo                                    ugly                                                         perceived as ugly, abnormally ugly

grande                           objectively large                                  surprisingly or recently large

guapo                             essentially handsome                       surprisingly or circumstantially handsome

interesado                    opportunistic, scheming                   interested

libre                                essentially free                                     free of certain fetters; free after having been unfree

limpio                              characteristically clean;                   clean now; clean after having been unclean
                                         free of corruption

listo                                 smart, clever                                         ready, prepared

loco                                 insane; wild and crazy                       insane; frantic; unreasonable

maduro                           mature                                                      ripe

malo                                bad, evil, wicked                                    ill; spoiled (food)

muerto                          lethargic, dull; a corpse                       deceased

nervioso                       characteristically nervous                  nervous, uneasy

nuevo                           brand new, recently made                   unused, in mint condition, like new

perezoso                    characteristically lazy                           uncharacteristically lazy; lacking in initiative,
                                                                                                             momentarily lacking in energy

pesado                       heavy; tiresome, annoying                  unexpectedly heavy; annoying at the moment (person)

rico                             wealthy; delicious (food)                       newly wealthy; delicious (food); cute (baby)

seguro                      reliable, safe, secure                               sure, certain; secure by circumstance

triste                           dull, depressing, pitiful                           sad; uncharacteristically gloomy

verde                         green; off-color (joke or behavior)     unripe (fruit or vegetable)

vivo                            keen, alert, lively                                       alive

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