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"Terminar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to end", and "dejar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to leave". Learn more about the difference between "terminar" and "dejar" below.
terminar(
tehr
-
mee
-
nahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to break up with
Terminó con su novia porque necesitaba espacio.He broke up with his girlfriend because he needed space.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to be done with
¿A qué hora crees que terminarás la traducción?What time do you think you'll be done with the translation?
4. (to result)
a. to end up (used with "-ing")
¿Sabías que Sandy y Jake terminaron casándose?Did you know Sandy and Jake ended up getting married?
terminarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to run out
Espero que lleguemos a nuestro destino antes de que al coche se le termine la gasolina.I hope we get to where we're going before the car runs out of gas.
dejar(
deh
-
hahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to put)
a. to leave
Dejé la llave en tu buzón, como me pediste que hiciera.I left the key in your mailbox, as you asked me to do.
Deja el libro en la mesa cuando acabes de leerlo.Leave the book on the table when you are finished reading it.
2. (to forget)
a. to leave
Dejaste el celular en mi casa. ¿No te habías dado cuenta?You left your cell phone at my place. Haven't you noticed?
3. (to abandon)
a. to leave
Su tío no tenía hijos y, cuando murió, le dejó todo a ella.Her uncle didn't have any children, and when he died, he left everything to her.
a. to leave
Marga anda muy despistada últimamente. Hoy dejó el grifo del lavabo abierto.Marga has been very distracted lately. She left the sink tap running today.
6. (transport)
a. to drop
¿Quieres que te lleve hasta la puerta? - No, hay mucho tráfico y no hace falta, me puedes dejar aquí mismo.Do you want me to take you to the door? - No, there's a lot of traffic, and it's not necessary. You can drop me right here.
7. (to allow)
a. to let
Déjame terminar esta tarea y nos vamos.Let me finish this homework and we can go.
¿Vas a dejar que acabe de hablar?Would you let me finish talking?
dejarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
b. to allow oneself
No puedo creer que se dejara engañar así.I can't believe that he allowed himself to be tricked like that.
a. to let oneself go
Es fácil dejarse cuando se está deprimido.It is easy to let yourself go when you're depressed.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to forget)
a. to leave
Me dejé las llaves del carro en casa. Tengo que volver.I left my car keys at home. I have to go back.
a. to grow
Ayer vi a Ismael. Al principio no lo reconocí. Se ha dejado barba.I saw Ismael yesterday. I didn't recognize him at first. He's grown a beard.
