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"Surf" is a noun which is often translated as "las olas", and "go surfing" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "practicar surf". Learn more about the difference between "surf" and "go surfing" below.
surf()
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. las olas
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
The surf can be dangerous on that beach.En esa playa, las olas pueden ser peligrosas.
a. la espuma
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(F)
The shore was a mass of white surf.La orilla estaba cubierta de espuma blanca.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. hacer surf
When Lucy was a teenager, she used to surf every day.Cuando Lucy era adolescente, hacía surf todos los días.
b. surfear
We're going to Zihuatanejo this weekend to surf.Este fin vamos a Zihuatanejo a surfear.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. navegar por
He spends hours surfing the Internet.Pasa horas navegando por Internet.
b. surfear en
You've been surfing the Web for two hours. Why don't you go out and take a walk?Tienes dos horas surfeando en la web. ¿Por qué no sales a caminar un rato?
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go surfing()
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.).
intransitive verb phrase
a. practicar surf
We went surfing every day while we were in Bali.Practicábamos surf todos los días mientras estábamos en Bali.
b. hacer surf
I've never gone surfing, but I'd love to learn.Nunca hice surf pero me encantaría aprender.
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