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"Prestar atención" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to pay attention", and "darse cuenta" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to realize". Learn more about the difference between "prestar atención" and "darse cuenta" below.
prestar atención(
prehs
-
tahr
ah
-
tehn
-
syohn
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (general)
a. to pay attention
Quiero que todos aquí presten atención a lo que voy a decir.I want everyone here to pay attention to what I'm about to say.
Es importante prestar atención a lo que comemos y a las calorías que consumimos.It's important to pay attention to what we eat and to the calories we consume.
darse cuenta(
dahr
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seh
kwehn
-
tah
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. to realize
Me acabo de dar cuenta de que no tengo las llaves del carro.I just realized I don't have my car keys.
b. to realise (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Al llegar al aeropuerto, Sonia se dio cuenta de que había dejado su pasaporte en casa.When she got to the airport, Sonia realised she'd left her passport at home.
c. to notice
Está cayendo agua del inodoro. - ¡Ups! No me había dado cuenta.The toilet is leaking. - Oops! I hadn't noticed.
