Dar when used with the verb Vuelta

Question

Hello,

I am trying to understand this sentence construction "ir a dar una vuelta en bicicleta".

The appearance of DAR (to give) in the sentence seems to change the context of the verb Vuelta (Volver to return).

Can someone explain how the sentence is constructed please, thank you.

Answer 1

"Dar una vuelta" is an idiom. It basically means "go for a walk/stroll/ride/...". The word "vuelta" here is a noun, and it refers to any motion in which you end up where you started.

• Thank you Lazarus - Mark-Baker Sep 5, 2009

Answer 2

Knowing how to add "Dar" seems to open up a world of possibilities. It seems to be a quick and easy technique for a beginner to be able to express themselves easily.

I guess dar is always kept in the 3rd person Sing. as a helping verb and the following verb is conjugated as normal?

No, it is not a helper verb, but a normal verb. One of the meanings of "dar" is "to cause/produce/..." referred to feelings. The construction is identical to that of verbs like "gustar", where the "feeling" is the subject of the sentence. Compare:

Eso me da miedo = It scares me

where "eso/it" is the subject. Notice that if it is you who scares someone else, you'd say:

Le doy miedo = I scare him/her

Actually, in English you also use the same verb (to give = dar). These sentences are virtually identical (except for the word used):

Me da escalofríos = It gives me the creeps

Well, in Spanish, things not only give you the creeps; they can give you fear, happiness, laziness,... The range of options makes this usage of "dar" worth learning. I have a personal list of 334 words that can go with this verb (although some of them do not belong to the same group). Just to mention a few:

• asco
• envidia
• pereza
• miedo
• pena
• rabia
• pánico
• alegría
• vergüenza
• frío
• calor
• seguridad
• confianza
• esperanza
• fuerzas

Answer 3

dar una vuelta

Answer 4

Is "hacer vueltas" to run errands?

• I'm not familiar with that expression. - lazarus1907 Sep 5, 2009
• i've never heard it...but then we don't have any context for it. ;-). - ChamacoMalo Sep 5, 2009
• I'm not sure where I saw it. I've never used it either. It just came to mind when I saw "dar una vuelta." - --Mariana-- Sep 5, 2009

Answer 5

Yes! You can say:

"Me da rabia" (It makes me angry).

"Me da tristeza" (It makes me sad).

"Me da risa" (It makes me laugh).

"Me da dolor de cabeza" (It gives me a headache).

"Me da miedo" (It scares me).

Etc.....

• Juanes used "rabia" in one of his songs..."Que rabia es esa" (that's not the title, just the lyric" - ChamacoMalo Sep 5, 2009

Answer 6

Heidita is such a good girl...it's hard to tell what she really REALLY knows...I'm sure she has a couple more "colourful" examples of how to use the verb Dar!

• ejejejejejejm indeed, Juan, I can think of a couple!! lol - Heidita Sep 6, 2009

Answer 7

"dar una vuelta" could be to spin around (pirouette) but, in your sentence, it's more like "go out for a spin on your bicycle".

• You don't have to describe a circular motion. It is just an idiom to say "go out, move about, and come back". - lazarus1907 Sep 5, 2009
• as far as I know, 'dar la vuelta' means to turn around literally, whereas 'dar una vuelta', as we have seen, generally means to go for a stroll, or go for a wander - r1alford Sep 5, 2009

Answer 8

Another idiom from Puerto Rico is "dale vuelta", a thing you'd say for someone to turn around or give another pass...it's usually a thing a guy says to a pretty girl.

• a "head turner" - qfreed Sep 5, 2009
• I have made a special note of this ...jejeje - Mark-Baker Sep 5, 2009
• a similar looking idiom from spain: '¡dale caña!'... give it your all! - r1alford Sep 5, 2009
• I like that dale cana...never heard it before, but i like it! - ChamacoMalo Sep 5, 2009

Answer 9

Check this out:

http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=vuelta

• Thanks..this link gives us a lot of examples! - --Mariana-- Sep 5, 2009

Answer 10

It is an idiom, which implies that is a regional speech or dialect. In this case from Latinoamerica where "ir a dar" means "to go" for a ride/walk/stroll . And "dar una vuelta en la bicicleta" means to go for a bike ride and come bacl to the starting location. Gramaticaly wont make sense as many of the idiom.

Answer 11

Qfreed, your link is excellent!!!

The Website says....'After "me da ..." many expressions are possible: eg: me da envidia = It makes me envious'

Knowing how to add "Dar" seems to open up a world of possibilities. It seems to be a quick and easy technique for a beginner to be able to express themselves easily.

I guess dar is always kept in the 3rd person Sing. as a helping verb and the following verb is conjugated as normal?

Thanks Qfreed once again.

Answer 12

I guess dar is always kept in the 3rd person Sing. as a helping verb and the following verb is conjugated as normal?

HI Maaaaak , hmmm, well not really, there are expressions which are in third person, look at Marianne's example, but normally the verb dar is conjugated according to person and followed by a noun as an expression.

Doy la vuelta con mi perro. doy, 1st person, la vuelta, noun Damos las gracias a la mujer. damos, first person plural, las gracias, noun

I don't know if this was your doubt.

Answer 13

Thank you Heiditaaaaaaa, hmmm, I see how that works now.