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"Interesar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to interest", and "caer" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to fall". Learn more about the difference between "interesar" and "caer" below.
interesar(
een
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teh
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reh
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sahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to interest
¿De verdad crees que esta película les interesa a los alumnos?Do you really think this movie will interest the students?
b. to be of interest
El proyecto seguramente interesará a los inversionistas.The project will certainly be of interest to the investors.
2. (to affect)
a. to concern
Las decisiones de la presidente nos interesan a todos.The president's decisions concern us all.
a. to be of interest
Interesaría realizar una investigación más detallada del caso.It would be of interest to conduct further research on the case.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to interest in
El vendedor nos interesó en la casa en venta.The salesman interested us in the house on sale.
b. to get interested in
Tenemos que tratar de interesar a los niños en el deporte.We've got to try to get kids interested in sports.
interesarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be interested in
El comité se interesó mucho en mi propuesta.The committee was very interested in my proposal.
b. to take interest in
La maestra espera que, con su dinámica, sus alumnos se interesen en la clase.The teacher hopes that, with her dynamism, her students take an interest in the class.
c. to take an interest in
Se interesó por el jazz gitano luego de leer sobre el guitarrista Django Reinhardt.He took an interest in gypsy jazz after reading about Django Reinhardt's history.
a. to ask about
Los amigos de Julia se interesaron por su salud.Julia's friends asked about her health.
b. to inquire about
Hasta ahora, nadie en la empresa se ha interesado por mi bienestar.Nobody in the company has yet inquired about my welfare.
caer(
kah
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ehr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (weather)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Está cayendo una buena nevada. Ponle las cadenas a las ruedas.It's snowing hard. Put the chains on the tires.
Tuvimos que quedarnos en casa porque estaba cayendo un chaparrón.We had to stay home because it was pouring rain.
4. (to lessen)
b. to be caught
El criminal cayó tras la confesión de su mujer.The criminal was caught after his wife confessed.
10. (colloquial) (to recall)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to realize
¡Acabo de caer en que tengo una cita con el dentista en diez minutos!I just realized I have a dentist appointment in ten minutes!
b. to remember
Te conozco de algún lugar, pero no caigo en donde.I know you from somewhere, but I don't remember where.
11. (to commit)
a. to succumb
Me siento culpable porque estoy a dieta, pero caí en la tentación de un pastel de chocolate.I feel guilty because I'm on a diet, but I succumbed to the temptation of a chocolate cake.
a. to fall for it
El taxista intentaba engañarme porque me veo extranjero, pero no caí.The taxi driver was trying to trick me because I look foreign, but I didn't fall for it.
13. (to be within)
a. to fall
La venta de pasteles no cae dentro del presupuesto de la escuela.The bake sale does not fall within the school budget.
14. (to suit)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No bebo porque el alcohol me cae mal.I don't drink because alcohol disagrees with me.
¡Te cae estupendo ese vestido!You look great in that dress!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me marché porque me cae mal tu primo con sus bromas ofensivas.I had to leave because I can't stand your cousin and his offensive jokes.
Me cae muy bien tu hermano; siempre me hace sonreír.I really like your brother; he always makes me smile.
16. (to result)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
El embarazo de mi hermana pequeña no cayó bien en la familia.My little sister's pregnancy shocked the entire family.
Que Harvard la hubiera rechazado, le cayó mal.She wasn't pleased that Harvard rejected her.
17. (to visit)
a. to show up
Los invitados están al caer y la cena aún no está lista.My guests are about to show up and dinner isn't ready yet.
b. to drop in
Mis hermanos siempre caen en la cena navideña sin avisar.My brothers always drop in for Christmas dinner without a calling beforehand.
18. (to get dark)
caerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to fall
Mi hijo se cayó corriendo y se lastimó las rodillas.My son fell while running and hurt his knees.
b. to fall over
El vaso se cayó de la barra y se hizo pedazos.The glass fell off the bar and broke into pieces.
c. to fall down
Mi bebé está aprendiendo a andar y se cae muy a menudo.My baby is learning to walk and he falls down quite often.
20. (to detach)
a. to fall out
En cuanto se te caiga un diente de leche, ponlo debajo de la almohada.As soon as your baby tooth falls out, place it under the pillow.
b. to fall off
En otoño, las hojas cambian de color y se caen de los árboles.In fall, the leaves change color and fall off the trees.
21. (figurative) (to reach the highest degree)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me caigo de cansancio, pero tengo que estudiar para el examen de mañana.I am really tired, but I have to study for tomorrow's exam.
Mi bebé está llorando porque se cae de sueño.My baby is crying because he's very sleepy.
22. (computing)
a. to go down
La red de la universidad se cayó por mantenimiento.The university network went down due to maintenance.
