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"Perder" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to lose", and "ganar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to win". Learn more about the difference between "perder" and "ganar" below.
perder(
pehr
-
dehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to lose
Si perdemos otro partido, no nos clasificaremos para la final.If we lose another match, we will not qualify for the finals.
5. (to reduce)
perderse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to be lost
¿Nos puede ayudar, por favor? Nos hemos perdido. Estamos buscando el Museo del Prado.Can you help us, please? We're lost. We're looking for the Prado Museum.
a. to get lost
Durante unos minutos, no presté atención a lo que decía el profesor y me perdí.For a few minutes, I didn't pay attention to what the teacher was saying and I got lost.
b. to be lost
Esta regla gramatical es muy complicada. Me he perdido. ¿Me la puedes volver a explicar, por favor?This grammar rule is very complicated. I'm lost. Can you explain it to me again, please?
10. (to vanish)
a. to disappear
El coche negro se perdió entre el tráfico de la hora punta, y los policías que lo perseguían no pudieron hacer nada para evitarlo.The black car disappeared into the rush hour traffic, and the cops who were chasing it could do nothing about it.
a. to miss
¿No leíste su última novela? Bueno, no te perdiste nada. A mí me pareció bastante mediocre.Didn't you read his last novel? Well, you didn't miss anything. It seemed pretty mediocre to me.
b. to miss out on
Como no tienes suficiente información, te estás perdiendo muchas de las ventajas que tiene ser miembro de nuestro club.Because you don't have enough information, you're missing out on many of the advantages of being a member of our club.
12. (to go to waste)
a. to be ruined
Ese año se perdieron muchas cosechas debido a la sequía.That year many crops were ruined due to the drought.
a. to lose one's way
Tras la muerte de su esposa, él empezó a beber y acabó por perderse.After his wife died, he started drinking and ended up by losing his way.
ganar(
gah
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to obtain)
a. to win
Gané la lotería dos veces jugando con los mismos números.I won the lottery twice by playing the same set of numbers.
3. (to defeat)
a. to beat
Por fin le gané a mi papá en una partida de ajedrez.I finally beat my dad in a game of chess.
4. (to seize)
5. (to get to)
a. to save (space or time)
Ganarías espacio si sacaras este sillón viejo de la sala.You'd save some space if you got that old sofa out of the living room.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
7. (to benefit)
a. to gain
He ganado mucho por hablar con un experto como usted.I have gained a lot by talking with an expert like you.
a. to make
Mi esposo no gana suficientemente en su trabajo.My husband doesn't make enough in his job.
10. (to increase)
a. to benefit
La fundación ganará con su generosa donación.The foundation will benefit with your generous donation.
ganarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to secure)
a. to earn
Se ganó el amor del pueblo con sus discursos.She earned the love of the people with her speeches.
