vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Llevar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take", and "sostener" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to hold". Learn more about the difference between "llevar" and "sostener" below.
llevar(
yeh
-
bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
c. to bring
Llevaremos nuestros propios patines a la fiesta.We'll bring our own skates to the party.
d. to give a ride (in a vehicle)
Te llevo a la estación si quieres.I can give you a ride to the station if you like.
2. (clothing)
a. to wear
Ella siempre lleva sus botas favoritas cuando nieva.She always wears her favorite boots when it snows.
a. to be ahead by
Me llevaba dos metros de ventaja en la carrera cuando se cayó.He was ahead of me by two meters in the race when he fell.
b. to be older than (related to age)
Mi marido me lleva dos meses.My husband is two months older than me.
6. (to manage)
a. to handle
Sofía lleva todos los asuntos de finanzas en la familia.Sofía handles all the finances in the family.
b. to deal with
¿Quién va a llevar lo del traslado de oficina?¿Who's going to deal with the office move?
c. to run
Mi padre está enfermo, por lo que yo estoy llevando la empresa familiar en este momento.My father is sick, so I'm running the family business at the moment.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
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.).
a. to have (used with past participle)
Lleva comidos cuatro trozos de pizza.She has already eaten four slices of pizza.
llevarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to transport)
11. (to be friends)
a. to get along
Las dos hermanas nunca se han llevado bien.The two sisters have never gotten along well.
a. to be in
Se llevan mucho las zapatillas de deporte con trajes ahora.Wearing sneakers with a suit is really in now.
13. (to steal)
a. to take
Por lo que se ve, los intrusos no se llevaron nada.As far as we can see, the intruders didn't take anything.
b. to walk away with
Los ladrones se llevaron los candeleros de plata.The thieves walked away with the silver candlesticks.
sostener(
sohs
-
teh
-
nehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to grasp)
2. (to defend)
a. to support
No se puede sostener una afirmación como esa sin argumentos sólidos.You can't support such a statement without solid arguments.
b. to hold
Los expertos sostienen que las inversiones aumentarán con las nuevas medidas.Experts hold that investments will increase thanks to the new measures.
c. to back up
Necesitas más datos para sostener la hipótesis que planteas.You need more data to back up the hypothesis you're offering.
3. (to sustain)
a. to bear
La azotea no puede sostener más de dos personas.The roof terrace can't bear more than two people.
b. to support
Las columnas que sostienen el edificio son de estilo jónico.The columns that support the building are ionic style.
c. to hold up
Tuvieron que poner unas vigas para sostener las paredes tras la explosión.They had to put up some joists to hold up the walls after the explosion.
a. to support
Luke, el hijo mayor, es quien sostiene a toda su familia.Luke, the eldest son, is the one who supports his whole family.
b. to maintain
La inflación es tan alta que no me alcanza el sueldo para sostenerme.Inflation is so high that my salary is not enough for me to maintain myself.
a. to hold
Los acreedores no están dispuestos a sostener conversaciones sobre la cuestión.Creditors are not willing to hold talks on the issue.
b. to have
Los jugadores sostuvieron una larga discusión por la polémica decisión del árbitro.The players had a long argument over the referee's controversial decision.
6. (music)
a. to hold
La cantante no logró sostener el do en la segunda aria de la ópera.The singer didn't manage to hold the C in the second aria of the opera.
b. to sustain
Tienes que aprender a controlar la respiración para sostener esa notas.You have to learn to control your breathing to sustain those notes.
a. to keep up
Trata de sostener el ritmo de carrera lo más que puedas.Try to keep up your running speed as long as possible.
b. to sustain
No podemos sostener esta situación de incertidumbre durante mucho tiempo.We can't sustaining this uncertain situation for very long.
sostenerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
8. (to stay up)
b. to stand
Quedó tan cansada después de correr la maratón que no se podía sostener en pie.She was so tired after running the marathon that she could hardly stand.
a. to remain
El gobernante se sostuvo en el poder a pesar de la inconformidad del pueblo.The ruler remained in power despite the people's dissent.
a. to support oneself
La institución se sostiene a través de sus ventas.The institution supports itself through its sales.
a. to hold
La hipótesis no se sostendrá si no encuentran nuevas pruebas.The hypothesis won't hold if new evidence isn't found.
