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"Poner" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put", and "andar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to walk". Learn more about the difference between "poner" and "andar" below.
poner(
poh
-
nehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to place)
2. (figurative) (to cause to be)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
3. (clothing)
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.
4. (to install)
6. (to grade)
7. (to produce)
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.
9. (to connect)
10. (to name)
11. (to establish)
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.).
12. (to become)
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. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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 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.
17. (to go down)
andar, el andar(
ahn
-
dahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to walk
"Cuando ando, me canso mucho", le dijo la anciana a su médico."When I walk, I get very tired," the old woman told her doctor.
Voy andando al colegio todos los días.I walk to school every day.
2. (to mount; used with "en") (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take
Yo siempre ando en tren cuando regreso al hogar.I always take the train when returning home.
En el verano ella anda en bicicleta al trabajo.In the summer she takes her bike to work.
4. (to operate)
a. to hang out with
¿Sabías que tu hijo anda con una gente muy rara?Did you know your son hangs out with some very strange people?
a. to go out with
¿Sabías que Ana anda con Miguel? - ¡No, no lo sabía! ¿Desde cuándo?Did you know that Ana is going out with Miguel? - No, I didn't! Since when?
a. to be around
El costo medio de un sitio web anda por los $2000.The average cost of a website is around $2000.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to walk
Estoy agotada porque esta mañana anduve 20 kilómetros.I'm exhausted because I walked 20 kilometers this morning.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
10. (movement)
a. gait
Lo conocí de lejos por ese andar raro que tiene.I recognized him from a distance by his strange gait.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Qué andar tan raro tienen esos jóvenes!The way those youths walk is really strange!
Se le nota en el andar que tiene mucho dolor.You can tell by the way she walks that she's in a lot of pain.
andarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
los andares
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
12. (movement)
a. gait
El jefe entró en nuestra sala con andares decididos y dijo, "Tengo algo importante que comunicarles".The boss entered our room with a determined gait and said, "I have something important to tell you."
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me gusta todo de ti, hasta los andares.I like everything about you, even the way you walk.
El Charlot de Charlie Chaplin tiene unos andares totalmente inconfundibles.The way Charlie Chaplin's tramp walks is completely unmistakeable.
