Deep verbs -- Multiple meanings

Question

I am looking to collect and study what I call deep verbs, or verbs which have multiple (unrelated) meanings.

One example is "quedar" -- fitting clothes, stay right here, location, condition, opinion/impression, etc.

Can you give me some other common examples. I want to spend some of my vocab time focusing on these words.

thanks

• Nice post-- I think we will all be able to benefit from this one - MeEncantanCa May 27, 2010

Answer 1

dejar has about a million different meanings

Answer 2

As eloquently described in previous posts, llevar has many meanings.

Answer 3

Tomar - to take, to drink

This concerns the same verb, but different meanings in the preterite and imperfect. It may not be of interest to you, but here goes.

saber - to know

Preterite - means to find out
Supe la información esta mañana. I found out the information this morning.

Imperfect - means to know
Sabía que mi primo iba a venir. I knew that my cousin was going to come.

conocer - to know/be familiar with

Preterite - to meet for the first time

Conocí a Margarita ayer. I met Margarita yesterday (for the first time).

Conocía bien la ciudad porque vivía allá. I knew/was familiar with the city because I lived there.

Answer 4

Hmm, does 'acabar' qualify?

• I like it. - cdowis May 28, 2010

Answer 5

Tirar is the one I have the most problems with.

Answer 6

It hardly seems worth inventing a term to describe such words/verbs. A word which has no synonyms (excepting very specific technical terms) is something of an exception.

Answer 7

Good question.

Tener is used for "tengo hambre" and "tengo veinte años", but the basic meaning is the same, "to have". But I am looking more for words like "quedar" which has several unrelated meanings. I guess it is a matter of degree.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 8

What about quedar?

• Already mentioned in the first post. - cdowis May 28, 2010

Answer 9

Hmmmm.... interesting. The tense always has an effect on the meaning, of course.

Answer 10

responder ==

to vouch for

to give a response

to be acountable/responsible for

Answer 11

This post is similar to yours... except that it doesn't use just verbs, it talks about nouns too, if you're interested.

• thanks - cdowis Jul 12, 2010

Answer 12

Not to mention simple little things like "tener" and "hacer".

Do you distinguish between "meanings" and "translations"? The two are close but not identical.

• I am more interested in different meanings, such as quedar "located" and "wear (clothers)" - cdowis Jul 12, 2010