act
vs
behave

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"Act" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "actuar", and "behave" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "comportarse". Learn more about the difference between "act" and "behave" below.

act(

ahkt

)

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

1. (to take action)

a. actuar

The moment to act is now!¡Ahora es el momento de actuar!

2. (to behave)

a. actuar

He has been acting weird lately.Ha estado actuando de manera extraña últimamente.

b. comportarse

You just have to act naturally.Simplemente hay que comportarse con naturalidad.

3. (to pretend)

a. hacer

He acted as if he didn't care.Hizo como si no le importara.

4. (to function)

a. actuar

Ordinary painkillers don't act that fast.Los analgésicos normales no actúan tan rápido.

5. (to serve as)

a. servir

The coral reef acts as a barrier.El arrecife de coral sirve de barrera.

6. (to perform a role)

a. actuar

I can't act to save my life!¡No tengo ni idea de actuar!

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

7. (deed)

a. el acto

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

It was an act of sabotage.Fue un acto de sabotaje.

b. la acción

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

He was unaware of the consequences of his acts.No se daba cuenta de las consecuencias de sus acciones.

8. (legal)

a. la ley

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

The act was approved by Parliament.El parlamento aprobó la ley.

9. (entertainment)

a. el acto

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

(of a play)

Many Shakespeare plays are divided into five acts.Muchas de las obras de Shakespeare se dividen en cinco actos.

b. el número

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

(performance)

He was rehearsing his act before he went on stage.Estaba ensayando su número antes de salir a escena.

c. el grupo

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

(band)

We've hired a great act for the reception.Hemos contratado un grupo sensacional para la recepción.

10. (pretense)

a. el teatro

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

His crying is just an act.Su llanto es solo teatro.

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).

transitive verb

11. (to perform a role)

a. hacer

He once acted the part of Joseph in a Nativity play.Una vez hizo el papel de José en una obra de Navidad.

b. interpretar

They needed someone to act the role of Othello.Necesitaban a alguien que interpretara el papel de Otelo.

12. (to behave like)

a. hacerse

She enjoyed acting the lady of the manor.Disfrutaba haciéndose la gran señora.