This is the second edition on learning some common Spanish Expressions with Verbs. Don’t miss the first-part which focuses on the verbs: Acabar, Dar, Dejar, Echar, Haver and Hacer.
Today, we’ll focus on: Perder, Ponerse, Tener, Volver, and some other commonly used expressions.
(ponerse + adjective – to become)
Expressions with PERDER
echarse a perder – to be spoiled, to be ruined
perder cuidado – not to worry
perder de vista – to lose sight of
For example:
- La leche se echó a perder. – The milk was spoiled.
- Pierda usted cuidado, todo saldrá bien. – Don’t worry, everything will turn out right.
- Lo siguieron, pero pronto lo perdieron de vista. – They followed him, but they soon lost sight of him.
Expressions with PONERSE
ponerse + adjective – to become, to turn
ponerse a + infinitive – to begin to, to set about
ponerse de acuerdo – to come to an agreement
For example:
- Al oír la noticia, el niño se puso pálido. – On hearing the news, the child became pale.
- El día se puso gris. – The day turned grey.
- La alumna se puso a llorar. – The pupil began to cry.
- Por fin se pusieron de acuerdo. – Finally, they came to an agreement,
Expressions with TENER
tener (mucho) calor (frío) – to be (very) warm (cold)
tener cuidado – to be careful
tener dolor de cabeza (estómago, etc.) – to have a headache (stomach ache, etc.)
tener éxito – to be successful
tener ganas de – to feel like
tener (mucha) hambre (sed) – to be (very) hungry (thirsty)
tener la culpa (de) – to be to blame (for)
tener lugar – to take place
tener miedo de – to be afraid of
tener por – to consider
tener prisa – to be in a hurry
tener que ver con – to have to do with
tener (la) razón (no tener (la) razón) – to be right (to be wrong)
tener (mucho) sueño – to be (very) sleepy
tener (mucha) suerte – to be (very) lucky
tener vergüenza (de + infinitive) – to be ashamed (of)
For example:
- Tenía calor y se quitó el suéter. – He was warm and took off his sweater.
- Tengan cuidado al cruzar la calle. – Be careful when crossing the street.
- Ayer tuve dolor de estómago. – Yesterday I had a stomach ache.
- Él tiene éxito en todo lo que hace. – He is successful in everything he does.
- A veces tengo ganas de bailar. – At times I feel like dancing.
- Cuando tengo sed, tomo agua. – When I am thirsty, I drink water.
- El muchacho tiene la culpa de lo que pasó. – The boy is to blame for what happened.
- ¿Cuándo tendrá lugar la fiesta? – When will the party take place?
- El niño tiene miedo de la oscuridad. – The child is afraid of the dark.
- Lo tengo por persona honrada. – I consider him an honest person.
- Tenía prisa y no pude detenerme a platicar. – I was in a hurry and could not stop to chat.
- No tengo nada que ver con eso. – I have nothing to do with that.
- ¿Tengo razón? No, no tienes razón. – Am I right? No, you are wrong.
- María tenía sueño y se acostó. – Mary was sleepy and went to bed.
- No tuvo suerte y perdió el dinero. – He wasn’t lucky and lost the money.
- ¿No tienes vergüenza? – Aren’t you ashamed?
(tener (mucho) sueño)
Expressions with VOLVER
volver a + infinitive – to … again
volver en sí – to regain consciousness, to come to
volverse + adjective – to become
For example:
- El cantante volvió a cantar. – The singer sang again.
- El herido nunca volvió en sí. – The wounded man never regained consciousness.
- Mi papa se ha vuelto imposible. – My father has become impossible.
Here is a list of some expressions used with verbs that aren’t categorized, but are quite common in the Spanish language.
Other common verbal expressions
encogerse de hombros – to shrug one’s shoulders
guardar cama – to stay in bed
hacer saber – to inform, to let (someone) know
llegar a ser – to become, to get to be
llevar a cabo – to carry out, to carry through
oír decir que – to hear about
pensar + infinitive – to intend to
quedarse con – to keep, to hold on to
quedar en que … (quedar en + infinitive) – to agree that, to agree to
querer decir – to mean
sacar una fotografía – to take a picture
valer la pena – to be worthwhile
For example:
- Al oír la noticia, solo se encogió de hombros. – On hearing the news, he only shrugged his shoulders.
- Tenía fiebre y tuvo que guardar cama por dos días. – He had a fever and had to stay in bed for two days.
- Me hizo saber que no volvía hoy. – He let me know that he wouldn’t return today.
- Después de muchos años de estudio, logró llegar a ser médico. – After many years of studying, he managed to become a doctor.
- El capitán llevó a cabo las órdenes del general. – The captain carried out the general’s orders.
- En la clase de historia oímos hablar de Simón Bolívar. – In history class, we heard about Simon Bolivar.
- Oí decir que te vas a Venezela. – I heard that you are going to Venezuela
- Pienso viajar a España este verano. – I intend to travel to Spain this summer.
- Se quedó con mi pluma. – He kept (walked off with) my pen.
- ¿En qué quedaste con Miguel? – What did you and Miguel agree to?
- Quedamos en encontrarnos aquí. – We agree to meet here.
- ¿Qué quiere decir esta palabra? – What does this word mean?
- Me gusta sacar fotografías. – I like to take pictures.
- A veces vale la pena escuchar las noticias. – Sometimes it’s worthwhile to listen to the news.
photo credit: Albuquerque BioPark via photopin
Thanks for this list of verb expressions. There were a few I had never heard of and even more that I had forgotten about. I especially enjoyed the photo that went along with “Tener (mucho) sueño.”