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"Grasp" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "agarrar", and "understand" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "entender". Learn more about the difference between "grasp" and "understand" below.
grasp(
grahsp
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to seize)
a. aprovechar
The secretary grasped the opportunity of the interruption to leave the room.La secretaria aprovechó la oportunidad de la interrupción para salir de la habitación.
a. sujetar
Her aunt was grasping the book as if it would fly away.Su tía sujetaba el libro como si fuera a escaparse volando.
a. captar
The new receptionist quickly grasped what was expected of her.La nueva recepcionista captó rápidamente qué se esperaba de ella.
b. comprender
The government was slow to grasp the significance of these events.El gobierno tardó en comprender la importancia de estos eventos.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (hold)
a. el apretón (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).
She felt a firm grasp on her arm.Sintió un firme apretón en el brazo.
6. (figurative) (reach)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. el alcance (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).
If we can overcome our prejudices, a solution is within our grasp.Si podemos superar nuestros prejuicios, tenemos una solución a nuestro alcance.
a. la comprensión (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).
Given his age, your young son's grasp of these complicated concepts is impressive.Dada su edad, la comprensión que tiene su hijito de estos conceptos complejos es digna de admiración.
b. el entendimiento (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).
Incredibly enough, my mother has a stronger grasp of computers than I do.Increíblemente, mi madre tiene mejor entendimiento de las computadoras que yo.
8. (figurative) (power)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. las garras (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 wanted to get the child out of that woman's grasp.Quería librar al niño de las garras de esa mujer.
understand(
uhn
-
duhr
-
stahnd
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. entender
He lived in Paris for three years and still doesn't understand a word of French.Vivió en París tres años y aún no entiende ni una palabra de francés.
b. comprender
My fifteen-year-old daughter can understand even the most complex math problems.Mi hija de quince años puede comprender aun los problemas matemáticos más complejos.
a. entender
The troop movement can only be understood as a provocation.El movimiento de tropas solo se puede entender como una provocación.
a. tener entendido
From what I understand, she got divorced.Según lo que tengo entendido, se divorció.
a. entender
I understand you, but I think you have to overcome the victim mentality.Te entiendo, pero creo que debes abandonar la mentalidad de víctima.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. comprender
I was paying attention in class but I just didn't understand.Estaba prestando atención en clase pero simplemente no comprendí.
