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"Be" is a copular verb which is often translated as "ser", and "get up" is a phrase which is often translated as "levántate". Learn more about the difference between "be" and "get up" below.
be(
bi
)
A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
copular verb
a. ser
The ocean is blue.El océano es azul.
a. estar
I'm not in a good mood today.Hoy no estoy de buen humor.
The sky is cloudy.El cielo está nublado.
b. tener
Are you cold? I can lend you a sweater.¿Tienes frío? Te puedo prestar un suéter.
I'm so hungry.Tengo muchísima hambre.
a. ser
France is a member of the European Union.Francia es un miembro de la Unión Europea.
a. ser
What do you do for a living? - I'm a doctor.¿A qué te dedicas? - Soy médico.
a. ser
My birthday is July 26th.Mi cumpleaños es el 26 de julio.
b. estar a (present day)
Today is Thursday.Hoy estamos a jueves.
a. ser
Be polite with guests.Sé educado con los invitados.
b. estar
Be quiet and don't move!¡Estate callado y no te muevas!
a. tener
My brother is 30 years old.Mi hermano tiene 30 años.
a. costar
One pizza and two drinks are $15.Una pizza y dos bebidas cuestan $15.
b. ser
Shipping is three dollars.El envío es tres dólares.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. ser
The party is at my place.La fiesta es en mi casa.
a. estar
My sister is in her room.Mi hermana está en su habitación.
a. estar
I've been to New York three times.He estado en Nueva York tres veces.
b. venir
The mailman has been here, but he didn't bring your package.El cartero ha venido, pero no trajo tu paquete.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
impersonal verb
a. haber
There are no trees on our road.No hay árboles en nuestra calle.
a. ser
It is bedtime.Es hora de ir a dormir.
a. hacer
It's too windy to go up in a balloon.Hace demasiado viento para ir en globo.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
auxiliary verb
a. estar
I am reading a book.Estoy leyendo un libro.
a. ser
The church was built in 1900.La iglesia fue construida en 1900.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I'm going to the party. - So am I.Voy a la fiesta. - Yo también.
It is a lovely day, isn't it?Es un día precioso, ¿verdad?
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I don't know how much salt is to be added to the sauce.No sé cuánta sal hay que añadir a la salsa.
The assignment is to be done by next Thursday.La tarea tiene que estar para el jueves que viene.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
My baby is due in three months.Mi bebé nacerá dentro de tres meses.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist.Mañana voy al dentista.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Had it not been for his family, he would have never become an artist.Si no fuera por su familia, nunca habría sido artista.
If I were you, I would not go.Yo en tu lugar, no iría.
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get up(
gehd
 
uhp
)
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. levántate
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
(informal)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
You've slept enough. Get up.Ya dormiste suficiente. Levántate.
b. levántese
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
(formal)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
What time do I have to get up tomorrow? - Get up at the time you want. We're in no hurry.¿A qué hora tengo que levantarme mañana? - Levántese a la hora que quiera. No tenemos prisa.
a. levántense
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
If you have to be at school at 9 am, get up at 8 am.Si tienen que estar en la escuela a las 9 am, levántense a las 8 am.
a. levántate
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
(informal)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
Get up and let that lady sit down. - Yes, Mom.Levántate y deja sentar a esa señora. - Sí, mamá.
b. levántese
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
(formal)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
Get up once the bus has stopped, otherwise you might fall.Levántese una vez que el autobús haya parado, si no, podría caerse.
a. levántense
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
You've been sitting on the couch all afternoon. Get up and do something.Llevan toda la tarde sentados en el sofá. Levántense y hagan algo.
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. levantarse
I get up at 7 am every day.Me levanto a las 7 am cada día.
a. levantarse
Children, please get up off the floor.Niños, levántense del suelo por favor.
b. pararse
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
He got up to give the seat to an old lady.Se paró para dejarle el asiento a una señora mayor.
a. subir
He got up on the podium to receive the medal.Subió al podio para recibir la medalla.
a. levantarse (wind)
A strong wind got up and the clouds started moving very fast.Se levantó un viento muy fuerte y las nubes empezaron a moverse muy rápido.
b. embravecerse (sea)
The sea had gotten up and the boat was swaying back and forth.El mar se había embravecido y el barco se balanceaba hacia atrás y adelante.
c. avivarse (fire)
He threw some wood on the fire and it got up.Lanzó leña al fuego y éste se avivó.
a. ataviarse
He got up in a tuxedo.Se atavió con un esmoquin.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
transitive verb phrase
a. levantar
Go get your brother up.Vete a levantar a tu hermano.
a. levantar
We got the body up between the three of us.Entre los tres levantamos el cuerpo.
a. levantar (building)
They are getting several buildings up in the square.Están levantando varios edificios en la plaza.
b. montar (tent)
He got the tent up with incredible ease.Montó la tienda con una facilidad pasmosa.
a. reunir
I couldn't get up enough strength to break the glass.No pude reunir la fuerza necesaria para romper el cristal.
a. organizar
They got up an incredible team in a matter of two years.Organizaron un equipo increíble en cuestión de dos años.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I don't want to get your hopes up.No quiero que te hagas demasiadas ilusiones.
Walking to the restaurant will get our appetite up.Andar hasta el restaurante nos ayudará a abrir el apetito.
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