por que "¿Estoy infectado?" y no "¿Soy infectado?"

[the trebmeister]

i think i know the answer but am too demented to remember...

why is the forum title "¿Estoy infectado?" ??   I thought estar is used for conditional/temporary and ser used for permanent, like "Estoy muy aburrido." or "Soy ojos verdes."

But estar is also used in informal speech &, for lack of a better term, the subjunctive (?), so is that why it's in the heading instead of ser? 

Obviously I could look this up but 1) too lazy and 2) awaiting the lack of response to gauge how quickly a topic drops to page 2 with my forums settings.  & et cetera

[Grasshopper]

"Estoy muy aburrido." or "Soy ojos verdes."

(Yo) tengo ojos verdes ?

[loop78]

why is the forum title "¿Estoy infectado?" ??   I thought estar is used for conditional/temporary and ser used for permanent, like "Estoy muy aburrido." or "Soy ojos verdes."

"Estar", in this sense, is normally used to indicate something situational, accidental... However that situation may indeed be very long lasting or even permanent :-)

E.g. "Estoy soltero" / "I'm single". It's perfectly possible to be single forever, but it's still a situation, not part of your essence. Is normally something that comes from outside the talker. Something that happens to you, not something you identify as part of yourself.

"Ser" is normally used to indicate that essence or identity. E.g. "Soy español" / "I'm Spanish".

However it's really difficult to trace a definite line between both, and many times, slight changes of wording may be all that's necessary to use one or the other to convey the same meaning. E.g. "Estoy infectado" / "I'm infected", but "Soy seropositivo" / "I'm hiv-positive".

Confusing, isn't it?

Hope this helps!

PS: soy ojos verdes?

[jay195]

Soy de ojos verdes or tengo ( los ) ojos are both acceptable." Estoy" because in Spain we believe this is going to be temporary situation and " soy " because once you have sero converted then you cannot unconvert.
 
                                   Jay xx

[Queen Tokelove]

I know very little spanish though I am half Puerto Rican. But to me, it seems like someone has too much time on their hands, just saying.....

[blondbeauty]

Loop 78 explained very well the difference between the verbs "Ser" and "Estar". In the case of the eye colour the most usual way of saying it is using the verb "Tener"= "to have". So you would say: I have blue eyes = Tengo ojos azules.
But if you want to use the verb "Ser" = "To be" you would say: I am a blue eyed person =soy de ojos azules.

[the trebmeister]

gracias. soy muy estupido!

the morning after i wrote the first post i woke up and the first thought in my foggy head was i'd written "i am green eyes"  instead of what i meant.