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"Acostarse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to go to bed", and "tenderse" is a reflexive verb which is often translated as "to lie down". Learn more about the difference between "acostarse" and "tenderse" below.
acostarse(
ah
-
kohs
-
tahr
-
seh
)A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
2. (to recline)
a. to lie down
Se acostó en la arena y se puso la camisa en la cabeza.She lay down in the sand and put her shirt over her head.
acostar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to put to bed
Acosté a los niños, y luego me acosté yo.I put the children to bed and then went to bed myself.
a. to lay down
Acuesta a la paciente y levántale las piernas.Lay the patient down and raise her legs.
tenderse(
tehn
-
dehr
-
seh
)A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
1. (to recline)
a. to lie down
Tan pronto como llegue a casa, voy a tenderme y relajarme un rato.As soon as I get home, I'm going to lie down and relax for a while.
a. to stretch out
El perro se tendió por toda la cama, por lo que no había espacio para mí.The dog stretched out across the entire bed so there was no room for me.
tender
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to suspend)
a. to hang
Si tiendes la ropa en el tendedero, estará seca por la mañana.If you hang the clothing on the clothesline, it will be dry by morning.
4. (to place)
a. to lay out
Tendimos todas las muestras para que pudiéramos escoger la mejor opción.We laid out all of the samples so that we could choose the best one.
5. (to reach)
a. to approach
Ten cuidado, tiendes a los límites de velocidad en esta carretera.Be careful, you are approaching the speed limit on this road.
6. (to extend)
a. to stretch out
Tenderemos la pancarta de modo que alcance los dos pilares.We will stretch out the banner so that it reaches both pillars.
7. (to arrange) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to tend
Tendemos a comprar productos orgánicos por razones de salud.We tend to buy organic products for health reasons.
