Dando - giving or taking?

Question

My Spanish grammar drills book translates "estoy dando clases de conducir" as "I'm taking driving clases".

I thought dando came from dar, to give. I'd have translated the phrase as "I'm giving driving classes".Translation applications are divided: some give classes, some take classes.

So many questions! Is 'estoy dando ...' ambiguous? Would 'estoy tomando ...' be wrong? If 'estoy dando ...' is 'taking', then what is the direct translation of 'I'm giving driving classes'?

Aaargh! My brain hurts! Can you help me please?

Hola amigo, it's "clases" with one "s" in Spanish. =) - DJ_Huero, Mar 23, 2011

Very good question, I as well learned clarity in this one. - DJ_Huero, Mar 23, 2011

D.J. Huero Sorry, for the misspelling. I was having problems shifting gears. - 0074b507, Mar 23, 2011

Lol, not a problem amigo, jaja... how many times have I made funny mistakes and you caught them for me? I think you're entitled to typo sometimes. ;-P - DJ_Huero, Mar 23, 2011

Answer 1

Yes, I would say that it is ambiguous without specific context. Look at these two definitons of dar in the RAE online dictionary.

• tr. Impartir una lección, pronunciar una conferencia o charla.
• tr. Recibir una clase. Ayer dimos clase de matemáticas

Here it has both the meanings of giving (teaching) and taking (receiving).

This is a discussion on English usage, but notice that no one objected to the use of estoy tomando clases..... Notice the last reply using ....hacer clases.....

The discussion thread is very interesting - thank you, Q. Chorlito - chorlito, Mar 23, 2011

Answer 2

I'd say that this is a regional thing. While I won't argue with the RAE definition offered by Q, I never use "dar" in the recibir sense. I have never used "dimos una clase de matemáticas". It doesn't make sense to me. But I am aware that the form is used in some places, as I have seen it written often enough.

Thank you, Geikosan. I'll be alert to this in future. Chorlito - chorlito, Mar 23, 2011

Answer 3

Jaja, well then this would be a confusing situation based on my buddy qfreed's info...

"Estoy dando clases de conducir, y tambien dando clases de cazar."

"I'm taking driving classes, and as well giving hunting classes."