The Verb "Dar" and Its Uses

Spanish: El verbo "dar" y sus usos

Level: A2 Elementary

Category: verbs

Explanation

The verb "dar" is one of the most versatile verbs in Spanish. Its basic meaning is "to give something to someone", but it appears in countless idiomatic expressions. It is an irregular verb: in the present tense it conjugates as "doy, das, da, damos, dais, dan". Note that the first person "doy" is irregular, just like "estoy", "soy", and "voy". The construction "dar a" means that something faces or looks out onto a place. For example, "la ventana da al jardín" means the window looks out onto the garden. This expression is very common when describing hotel rooms or houses. The reflexive form "darse cuenta de" means "to realize" or "to notice" something. For example: "Me di cuenta de que no tenía dinero" (I realized I had no money). It is important not to confuse "darse cuenta" (to realize) with "realizar" (to carry out a task), a classic false friend. Furthermore, "dar" appears in many fixed expressions: "dar un paseo" (to take a walk), "dar las gracias" (to give thanks), "dar miedo" (to scare), "dar igual" (to not matter). Learning these expressions will help you sound more natural in Spanish.

Examples

• Yo doy las gracias al camarero por el café. - I give thanks to the waiter for the coffee.
• Perdone, ¿la habitación da a la calle o al patio? - Excuse me, does the room face the street or the courtyard?
• Me di cuenta de que había olvidado la llave en la recepción. - I realized I had forgotten the key at reception.
• ¿Me da un kilo de tomates, por favor? - Could you give me a kilo of tomatoes, please?
• El guía nos da la entrada para la visita al museo. - The guide gives us the ticket for the museum tour.