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"Attempt" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "intentar", and "pretend" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "fingir". Learn more about the difference between "attempt" and "pretend" below.
attempt(
uh
-
tehmpt
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. intentar
The group was attempting to climb Everest.El grupo intentaba escalar el Everest.
b. tratar de
I attempted to convince my mother but failed.Traté de convencer a mi madre pero no lo conseguí.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Nobody had ever attempted the journey before.Nadie había intentado hacer el viaje antes.
You should attempt two questions in Part 3.Deberían intentar contestar dos preguntas de la tercera parte.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el intento
(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)
Ben proposed to Carla in an attempt to make her stay.Ben le pidió matrimonio a Carla en un intento de que se quedara.
b. la tentativa
(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)
Christina made an attempt to arrive on time.Christina hizo una tentativa de llegar puntual.
a. el atentado
(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)
The president suffered an attempt on his life.El presidente sufrió un atentado contra su vida.
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pretend(
pruh
-
tehnd
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. fingir
When we were kids, my sister and I always pretended to be pirates.Cuando éramos niños, mi hermana y yo siempre fingíamos que éramos piratas.
b. simular
Children can have fun pretending to be doctors or firefighters.Los niños pueden divertirse simulando que son doctores o bomberos.
a. pretender
He pretends to have done lots of research for his thesis.Pretende haber hecho mucha investigación para su tesis.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. fingir
Since I came out of the closet, I don't have to pretend anymore.Desde que salí del armario, ya no tengo que fingir.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. de mentira
When I was five years old, I had pretend tea parties with my dolls.Cuando tenía cinco años, hacía meriendas de mentira con mis muñecas.
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