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"Ir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to go", and "poner" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put". Learn more about the difference between "ir" and "poner" below.
ir(
eer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to go
Ayer Ana y yo fuimos al cine.Yesterday, Ana and I went to the movies.
a. to go
Por aquí no se va a la estación.This is not the way to go to the station.
a. to be
¿Has ido alguna vez a Chile?Have you ever been to Chile?
a. to go
¿Cómo te van los estudios?How's college going?
a. to go
Los platos van en el armario.Dishes go in the cupboard.
a. to go
El festival va del primero de abril hasta el primero de mayo.The festival goes from April first to May first.
a. to wear
Iba con botas amarillas.She wore yellow boots.
b. to be dressed in (color)
Iba de verde por el día de San Patricio.She was dressed in green for St. Patrick's Day.
a. to work
El portátil va bien.The laptop works well.
b. to run
Mi carro ha ido sin problema durante años.My car has run without an issue for years.
a. to be on
Voy por la página 50 de "San Manuel Bueno, mártir".I'm on page 50 of "San Manuel Bueno, Martyr."
a. to study to be
Mi primo va para cocinero.My cousin is studying to be a cook.
a. to go
Mi hermana va a la primaria al lado de la estación de bomberos.My sister goes to the elementary school next to the firestation.
a. to look
¡Vas muy guapa! Me encanta tu vestido.You look gorgeous! I love your dress.
a. to go with
Esa camisa roja no le va a ese pantalón amarillo.That red shirt doesn't go with those yellow pants.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
auxiliary verb
a. to go
¡Papá va a cocinar una cena espectacular!Dad is going to cook a wonderful dinner!
a. to be
Voy planificando la fiesta.I am planning the party.
irse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to leave
El alumno se fue de la biblioteca muy tarde.The student left the library very late.
b. to go
¡Vámonos! El camión nos va a dejar.Let's go! The bus is going to leave us behind.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
A la piscina se le fue todo el agua.All the water leaked from the pool.
A la llanta se le fue el aire.The tire went flat.
a. to die
Se nos fue muy joven.He died too young.
a. to go away
Con esta pastilla se te irá el dolor.This pill will make the pain go away.
a. to forget
¿Cómo se llama ese hombre? Lo sabía, pero se me fue.What's that man's name? I knew it, but I forgot.
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poner(
poh
-
nehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to put
¿Dónde pones las llaves?Where do you put the keys?
b. to add
Si pones más peso, se romperá.If you add more weight, it will break.
2.
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
(figurative)
(to cause to be)
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
a. to put on
Después de bañar a la bebé, hay que ponerle ropa limpia.After giving the baby a bath, you have to put some clean clothes on her.
a. to put
Es lógico que pongan allí un colegio nuevo.It makes sense to put a new school there.
a. to send
El mensaje que le puso era simple.The message he sent her was simple.
a. to give
Mi profesor me puso mala nota.My professor gave me a bad grade.
a. to lay
Las gallinas ponen un huevo al día.Hens lay one egg a day.
a. to put in
Podemos alquilar ese sitio si todos ponemos algo de dinero.We can rent the place if everybody puts in some cash.
a. to put on
Pon la televisión para ver las noticias.Put the television on to watch the news.
b. to turn on
¿Ponemos la calefacción?Shall we turn the heating on?
a. to call
Si tengo un niño le pondré Manuel, que es el nombre de mi padre.If I have a boy, I'll call him Manuel, which is my father's name.
b. to give
¿Qué nombre le van a poner a la niña? - Todavía no lo sabemos.What name are you going to give your baby? - We don't know yet.
a. to open
Sandy y su esposo van a poner una panadería en la calle principal.Sandy and her husband are going to open a bakery on main street.
ponerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to get
No te pongas impaciente conmigo cuando no has hecho nada para ayudar.Don't get impatient with me when you haven't done anything to help.
b. to be
No te pongas triste, cariño. Todo se arreglará.Don't be sad, sweetie. Everything will work out.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Me pongo furiosa con pensarlo.It makes me mad to think about it.
El perro siempre se pone feliz al verte.The dog's always happy to see you.
a. to turn
Se pone blando cuando se cocina.It turns soft when cooked.
a. to put on
Ponte la gabardina, está lloviendo.Put your raincoat on. It's raining.
a. to wear
Ya nunca me pongo ese vestido porque se ha quedado muy anticuado.I don't wear that dress anymore because it's very old-fashioned.
a. to move
Ponte un poco más a la derecha.Move a little more to the right.
a. to set
El sol se pone y entonces cae la noche.The sun sets and then night falls.
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