How do you say this correctly, "You need to take water with you" ?

Question

Take= tomar, llevar or traer : which verb? (Drink= tomar ???) Just when I think I am learning I go back to the beginning. I think this is a simple question I am making very difficult. Is it .....(basically) Take= tomar Carry= llevar Bring= traer Drink=tomar..... ???

Answer 1

Hi, Rosalinda, the verb you want is "llevar", because you are "transporting" or "taking something along". "Llevar" means "to take" or "to carry", which is what you would be doing with the water.

"Necesitas llevar agua contigo" - You need to take water with you.

On the other hand "traer" is "to bring". If you were instructing someone to "bring water to a place", you would say "Necesitas traer agua contigo." - You need to bring water with you.

I hope this has answered your question.

Thank you for simple answer!!!! - 6Rosalinda, Jun 21, 2010

Answer 2

Yes, you are correct: **llevar = to carry / to transport

traer = bring

tomar = to take

beber = to drink but tomar is also used idiomatically meaning: to drink

eg í Vamos a tomar un café ! = Let's go to have (drink) a coffee !**

You need to take water with you

= Necesitas llevar agua contigo ( o Necesita llevar con Uds (Sp) / vosotros (L Am)

You could perhaps use traer, too, but I believe that llevar is the most suitable verb of the 4

Please also see Mountain Girl's Wonderfully clear explanation

Thank you. I think an English degree first would be very helpful with all these tenses, conjugations and IDIOMATICAL MEANINGLYS... jajaja - 6Rosalinda, Jun 21, 2010

You are most welcome and Iam sure you are right about the degree hahaha however a good standard of English and understanding of grammer can go a long way - FELIZ77, Jun 22, 2010

Answer 3

Until someone else weighs in, I will offer: Tú necesitas tomar agua contigo. I am only a beginner, so you might want to wait for other members to respond.

good try but you need to use the verb llevar instead of tomar - FELIZ77, Jun 21, 2010

My Mama's family all speak Spanish. She wanted my English to be perfect and did not teach me Spanish. Your answer is the translatiions response, I understand more than I can speak. I felt this translation was not correct.... hence my question. - 6Rosalinda, Jun 21, 2010