English has one verb to be. Portuguese has two — ser and estar — and choosing between them is one of the first real decisions you'll make.

This lesson is about ser: the verb for what something is, at its core. Use it for:

• identity — Eu sou a Marina. (I'm Marina.)
• origin — Eu sou de Boston. (I'm from Boston.)
• nationality — Ela é brasileira. (She's Brazilian.)
• profession — Ele é professor. (He's a teacher.)