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"Catch up" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "alcanzar", and "talk" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "hablar". Learn more about the difference between "catch up" and "talk" below.
catch up(
kehch
Â
uhp
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. ponerse al dÃa
I've missed too many classes. I'll never catch up now.Me perdà demasiadas clases. Ya nunca me pondré al dÃa.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. poner al tanto de
Can you catch me up on what I missed while I was on the phone?¿Me pones al tanto de lo que me perdà mientras hablaba por teléfono?
a. alcanzar
They left before us but we soon caught them up.Ellos salieron antes que nosotros pero pronto los alcanzamos.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He found himself caught up in a major row.Se vio envuelto en una disputa de gran envergadura.
My pant leg got caught up in the spokes of the wheel.La pierna del pantalón quedó enganchada en los rayos de la rueda.
a. alcanzar
Wow he's a fast runner! I couldn't catch up with him!¡Vaya que corre rápido!¡No lo pude alcanzar!
b. ponerse al nivel de
With so many missed classes, I'll have to work hard to catch up with the rest of the students.Con tantas clases que perdÃ, voy a tener que trabajar mucho para ponerme al nivel de los demás alumnos.
talk(
tak
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
2. (to discuss)
a. hablar
In the meeting we talked about my future at the company.En la reunión hablamos sobre mi futuro en la compañÃa.
b. platicar (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
My best friend and I spent the night talking about boys.Mi mejor amiga y yo nos pasamos la noche platicando de muchachos.
3. (to gossip)
a. dar una conferencia
Today I'm going to talk about new technologies.Hoy voy a dar una conferencia sobre nuevas tecnologÃas.
b. dar una charla
The professor is going to talk about public policy this afternoon.El profesor va a dar una charla sobre polÃticas públicas esta tarde.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
5. (to discuss)
a. hablar de
It isn't polite to talk politics or religion at the dinner table.No se debe hablar de la polÃtica o de la religión durante la cena.
a. convencer
I didn't want to go to the party, but my girlfriend talked me into it.No querÃa ir a la fiesta, pero mi novia me convenció que fuéramos.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la conversación (F)
(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).
We had a talk about my future.Tuvimos una conversación sobre mi futuro.
b. la plática (F) (Central America) (Mexico)
(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).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
I had a really good talk with my parents.Tuve una muy buena plática con mis padres.
8. (lecture)
a. la conferencia (F)
(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).
I went to a talk about climate change.Fui a una conferencia sobre el cambio climático.
9. (gossip)
a. el rumor (M)
(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).
They say we're all going to get raises, but it's little more than talk at this point.Se dice que todos vamos a recibir un aumento de salario, pero es puro rumor a estas alturas.
b. las habladurÃas (F)
(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).
The talk in this office has gotten completely out of hand.Las habladurÃas en esta oficina están completamente descontroladas.
10. (hot air)
a. la palabrerÃa (F)
(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).
It's time to turn all of this talk into action.Es hora de cambiar toda esta palabrerÃa por acción.
b. las palabras (F)
(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).
If you want to succeed, stop the talk and start doing something.Si quieres tener éxito, déjate de palabras y pasa a la acción.
11. (language)
a. el modo de hablar (M)
(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).
By his talk, you could tell he wasn't from here.Por su modo de hablar, se sabÃa que no era de aquÃ.
talks
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
12. (negotiations)
a. las negociaciones (F)
(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).
The talks concluded when both parties reached an agreement.Las negociaciones concluyeron cuando ambas partes llegaron a un acuerdo.
b. las conversaciones (F)
(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).
The purpose of the talks was to come to an agreement over the nuclear issue.El propósito de las conversaciones es llegar a un acuerdo sobre el tema nuclear.