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"Comer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to eat", and "tomar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take". Learn more about the difference between "comer" and "tomar" below.
comer(
koh
-
mehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to have for lunch
Tengo ganas de comer un sándwich de rosbif.I feel like having a roast beef sandwich for lunch.
3. (to eat for dinner) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have for dinner
Vamos a comer espagueti con albóndigas.We're going to have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
a. to hide
Ese sombrero te queda demasiado grande. ¡Te come la cara entera!That hat is too big for you. It hides your entire face!
b. to swallow up
Siento que estas gafas de sol me comen la cara.I feel like these sunglasses swallow up my face.
5. (to consume)
a. to eat up
El pago de la hipoteca de la casa me come la mayoría del sueldo.The mortgage payment on my house eats up most of my paycheck.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to eat
No quiero comer ahora mismo; no tengo hambre.I don't feel like eating right now. I'm not hungry.
a. to have lunch
Comieron rápido porque tenían una reunión a la 1 pm.They had lunch quickly because they had a meeting at 1 pm.
9. (to have a meal in the evening) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have dinner
Comimos en un restaurante mexicano nuevo.We had dinner at a new Mexican restaurant.
comerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to ingest food)
11. (to wear away)
12. (to use up)
a. to eat up
¡Los impuestos se me comen la mayor parte de mi sueldo!Much of my pay is eaten up by taxes!
b. to blow through
Iván se comió el premio que ganó en la lotería en pocos meses.Ivan blew through his lottery winnings in a few months.
13. (to chew on)
a. to bite
Le pusieron un ungüento para que no siguiera comiéndose las uñas.They put an ointment on his nails so that he wouldn't bite them.
14. (to omit)
b. to swallow
Se comió las palabras cuando estaba hablando con su enamorada.He swallowed his words when he was talking to his crush.
b. to crash into
Nos comimos la puerta del garaje cuando dimos marcha atrás.We crashed into the garage door when we reversed.
tomar(
toh
-
mahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to grab)
2. (to consume)
a. to take (medication)
Él tiene que tomar sus medicamentos dos veces al día.He has to take his medication twice a day.
3. (to ride)
4. (to seize)
5. (to absorb)
a. to get
Sal y toma un poco de aire fresco.Go out and get some fresh air.
Deja de jugar tantos videojuegos y sal a tomar el sol.Stop playing so many video games and go out and get some sun.
a. to drink
Tienes que tomar mucha agua en estos días tan calurosos.You have to drink a lot of water on such hot days.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to consume alcohol) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to drink
¿Quieres una copa de vino? - Gracias, pero no tomo.Would you like a glass of wine? - Thanks, but I don't drink.
tomarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to react)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No te lo tomes a pecho, pero no me gusta tu corte de pelo.Don't take it to heart, but I don't like your haircut.
¿Cómo se lo tomó?How did he take it?
11. (to consume)
12. (to get drunk)
