What does "puesto" add to the sentence?

Question

What does the use of "puesto" communicate in the sentence below compared to its absence: "Juan llevaba puesto un cinturón de cuero". Whether it is there or not, all three automatic translators render the English translation as: John was wearing a leather belt.

The sentence is from the Bible, Mark 1:6. - gsd9437, Jul 28, 2012

Great question I have just found out. "puesto/a" is used all over the place. - ian-hill, Jul 28, 2012

Answer 1

Llevar puesto means to wear or sport an article of clothing. Llevar by itself can mean to bring/carry/take and it can also mean to wear something, but it's less specific than "llevar puesto".

Yes, you're right, to sport' is very good. - annierats, Jul 29, 2012

Answer 2

Normally it means ' buckled up' as in buckle up your seat-belt.o

Francobollo is right, it means tow wear, to sport: Estaba llevando puesto un sombrero grande means: He was sporting a big hat.

Possibly in the biblical sense it may refer to girding your loins but I don't know if that is so.

Mine are always girded.:) - ian-hill, Jul 28, 2012

Obviously, with all that running you do at the Olympics! - annierats, Jul 29, 2012

I've updated it because I think Francobollo summed it up better. - annierats, Jul 29, 2012

Answer 3

I think the difference can be seen as follows:

Juan llevaba puesto un cinturón de cuero".

John was wearing a leather belt."

Juan llevaba un cinturón de cuero".

John wore a leather belt. "

Answer 4

Annie is right. When something is "llevado puesto" it just means "put on."

Cheers, Mica. - annierats, Jul 28, 2012

a good question opportunity! what does cheers mean? : P - unMica, Jul 28, 2012

It means "thanks" in this context unMica - a verbal "thumbs up" - ian-hill, Jul 28, 2012

great, thanks! - unMica, Jul 29, 2012

Yes, thanks, except in the pub when it means 'cheers'. - annierats, Jul 29, 2012

haha great - unMica, Jul 29, 2012