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"Tocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to touch", and "pedir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ask for". Learn more about the difference between "tocar" and "pedir" below.
tocar(
toh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to feel)
a. to touch
Puedes saber si tu bebé tiene fiebre tocando su frente.You can tell if your baby has a fever by touching her forehead.
5. (to broach)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to chime)
a. to ring
Las campanas de la iglesia tocan todos los domingos para llamar a los fieles a misa.The church bells ring every Sunday to call the faithful to mass.
9. (to tap)
a. to knock
Ana, alguien está tocando a la puerta. ¿Puedes ir a ver quién es, por favor? Yo estoy en la ducha.Ana, there's someone knocking at the door. Can you please go see who it is? I'm in the shower.
10. (to secure)
a. to win
No te lo vas a creer, pero nos ha tocado la lotería.You won't believe it, but we've won the lottery.
a. to be someone's turn
¿Quién va a lavar los platos? - Te toca a ti.Who's going to do the dishes? - It's your turn.
12. (to need to)
a. to have to
Mañana toca hacer la declaración de la renta. ¡Lo odio!I have to do my tax return tomorrow. I hate it!
tocarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to touch each other
Solo nos tocamos para estrecharnos la mano.We don't touch each other unless it's to shake hands.
pedir(
peh
-
deer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to solicit)
b. to ask
No necesitas pedir permiso para ir al baño.You don't have to ask permission to go to the bathroom.
c. to request
Si tienes más de 1,000 puntos, puedes pedir un regalo.If you have more than 1,000 points, you can request a gift.
a. to beg
Había muchos indigentes pidiendo dinero en el metro.There were lots of homeless people begging for money in the metro.
4. (commerce)
b. to ask for (a price)
Están pidiendo $300 por taquilla para el concierto.They're asking $300 per ticket for the concert.
5. (to command)
b. to request
Los clientes pueden pedir en todo momento un libro de reclamaciones.Customers may request a complaints book at any time.
6. (to require)
a. to need
Esta posición pide un mínimo de cinco años de experiencia.This position needs a minimum of five years of work experience.
b. to cry out for
Este cachorro pide atención constantemente.This puppy is constantly crying out for attention.
8. (legal)
a. to ask for
El acusado le pidió al juez una sentencia más corta.The defendant asked the judge for a shorter sentence.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to order
¿Me da un minuto, por favor? Aún no sé lo que voy a pedir.Would you give me another minute, please? I still don't know what I'm going to order.
10. (religious)
a. to pray
Mi abuela siempre pedía por cada uno de sus nietos.My grandmother used to pray for each and every one of her grandchildren.
pedirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to claim)
a. to call dibs on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Me pido el asiento delantero!I call dibs on the front seat!
b. to bag (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Alguien ya se había pedido la mesa de la ventana.Someone had already bagged the table by the window.
a. to order oneself
Voy a pedirme un café. ¿Quieres algo?I'm going to order myself a coffee. Do you want something?
