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"Montar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ride", and "montar en" is a transitive verb phrase which is also often translated as "to ride". Learn more about the difference between "montar" and "montar en" below.
montar(
mohn
-
tahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to ride
Mabel aprendió a montar el caballo de su abuelo cuando tenía apenas cuatro años.Mabel learned to ride her grandfather's horse when she was just four years old.
2. (to get on)
a. to mount
¿Puedes agarrar la cabeza de la yegua para que la pueda montar?Can you hold the mare's head so that I can mount her?
a. to put together
Amy y John tardaron cuatro horas en montar su cama nueva.It took Amy and John four hours to put together their new bed.
b. to assemble
Para montar esta bicicleta, se necesita una llave ajustable.To assemble this bicycle, an adjustable wrench is needed.
c. to put up
No vamos a poder montar este librero de roble sin ayuda.We aren't going to be able to put up this oak bookcase without help.
a. to set up
Mi cuñada montó una tienda de productos orgánicos en el centro.My sister-in-law set up an organic goods store downtown.
6. (to raise)
7. (film)
8. (sewing)
a. to cast on
Mi abuela me enseñó a montar puntos con dos agujas.My grandmother showed me how to cast on stitches with two needles.
10. (culinary)
a. to cock
El ladrón montó su pistola y gritó, "¡Nunca me atraparán con vida!"The robber cocked his pistol and shouted, "You'll never take me alive!"
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
13. (to climb on)
a. to come to
El total de las reparaciones a su casa monta a 100,000 dólares.The total of the repairs to your house comes to 100,000 dollars.
a. to cover part of
La etiqueta del precio monta sobre la cubierta del libro.The price tag covers part of the cover of the book.
montarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
17. (to get up on)
b. to get onto
¿De verdad se van a montar a ese toro enorme?Are you really going to get onto that giant bull?
d. to get into (a vehicle)
Angie se montó a la camioneta y se fue rumbo al campo.Angie got into the truck and drove toward the countryside.
18. (colloquial) (to manage) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to handle
Yo sé que trabajar 12 horas seguidas es duro, pero me lo puedo montar.I know that working 12 hours straight is tough, but I can handle it.
montar en(
mohn
-
tahr
ehn
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to mount)
a. to ride
¿Sabes montar en bicicleta? - Sí, aprendí de niña.Can you ride a bike? - Yes, I learned as a child.
a. to travel by
¿Te gusta montar en avión? - No, me da miedo volar.Do you like to travel by plane? - No, I'm afraid of flying.
3. (to board)
a. to get in
Al montar en el carro, se me cayó el celular del bolsillo del pantalón.As I was getting in the car, my cellphone fell out of my pants pocket.
b. to get on
Carmen montó en el autobús y buscó su asiento.Carmen got on the bus and looked for her seat.
c. to get onto
Intentemos montar en el próximo tren y buscar un asiento.Let's try to get onto the next train and find a seat.
montarse en
A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
4. (to board)
a. to get in
Me encanta conducir. Cuando me aburro, me monto en el coche y me voy a dar una vuelta.I love driving. When I'm bored, I get in the car and go for a ride.
b. to get on
Tenga cuidado al montarse en el autobús, el escalón es muy alto.Be careful when getting on the bus. The step is very high.
c. to get onto
Mejor que nos montemos en el tren porque está a punto de salir.We'd better get onto the train because it's about to leave.
