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"Darse cuenta" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to realize", and "prestar atención" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to pay attention". Learn more about the difference between "darse cuenta" and "prestar atención" below.
darse cuenta()
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. to realize
Acabo de darme cuenta de que dejé el celular en casa.I just realized I left my cell phone at home.
b. to realise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Al llegar al aeropuerto, Sonia se dio cuenta de que había dejado su pasaporte en casa.When she got to the airport, Sonia realised she'd left her passport at home.
c. to notice
Está cayendo agua del inodoro. - ¡Ups! No me había dado cuenta.The toilet is leaking. - Oops! I hadn't noticed.
2. (colloquial) (to understand; often used with "de")
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to tell
No me doy cuenta de cuál es la diferencia entre estos dos productos.I can't tell what the difference between these two products is.
b. to figure out
Me llevó un tiempo darme cuenta de qué le pasaba al motor del carro.It took me a while to figure out what was wrong with the car engine.
prestar atención()
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.).
1. (general)
a. to pay attention
Quiero que todos aquí presten atención a lo que voy a decir.I want everyone here to pay attention to what I'm about to say.
Es importante prestar atención a lo que comemos y a las calorías que consumimos.It's important to pay attention to what we eat and to the calories we consume.
