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"Venir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to come", and "poner" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to put". Learn more about the difference between "venir" and "poner" below.
venir(
beh
-
neer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to come
El tren viene de Andalucía.The train comes from Andalusia.
b. to arrive
Ella vino en el vuelo de las 9pm.She arrived on the 9pm flight.
a. to come back
Vine a la casa para almorzar.I came back home for lunch.
b. to be back
El perro vendrá cuando tenga hambre.The dog will be back when he's hungry.
a. to be from
Gabriel viene de México.Gabriel is from Mexico.
a. to be
Los subtítulos de la película vienen en inglés.The subtitles for the movie are in English.
b. to come
Esta comida viene ya hecha.This food comes pre-made.
a. to come
¡Ya mismo viene la Navidad!Christmas is coming soon!
b. to come up
Tu cumpleaños viene ya mismo.Your birthday is coming up soon.
a. to get
Me viene sueño en el trabajo después de almorzar.I get drowsy at work after having lunch.
A nosotros nos vino una gripe terrible.We got a terrible flu.
a. to come
Lo mejor está por venir.The best is yet to come.
Ahora viene la escena que me gusta.The scene I like is coming up.
b. next (followed by a timeframe)
La semana que viene estaré trabajando desde casa.I'll be working from home next week.
El año que viene visitaremos Japón.Next year we're traveling to Japan.
a. to look
¿Me viene bien este gorro?Does this hat look good on me?
b. to suit
Ese color no te viene muy bien.That color doesn't really suit you.
a. to be
Creo que este vestido me viene muy grande.I think this dress is too big on me.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Unas largas vacaciones ahora me vendrían bien.A long vacation now would do me nicely.
Estas botas me vendrán bien cuando haya mucha nieve.These boots will come in handy when it's very snowy.
a. to be
Este fin de semana me viene un poco mal.This weekend isn't too good for me.
b. to work for
¿Te viene bien reunirnos mañana a las 4 pm?Does meeting at 4 pm tomorrow work for you?
c. to suit
¿Te viene bien encontrarnos en el restaurante?Does meeting at the restaurant suit you?
a. to mean
¿A qué vienes con decir eso?What do you mean by that?
a. to pick up
Avísale a Sofía que sus amigas han venido por ella.Tell Sofia her friends have come to pick her up.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
¿Vino el mensajero a por el contrato?Has the messenger been to pick up the contract?
Venimos a por el perro.We're here to collect the dog.
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. to come in
Ellos vinieron cantando.They came in singing.
a. to come
Ella vino cansada del trabajo.She came back from work tired.
venirse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to come
Se vino una tormenta mientras nadábamos en la playa.A storm came upon us when we were swimming at the beach.
El perro se vino sin ser llamado.The dog came without being called.
a. to come back
Se vino solo de la fiesta.He came back from the party alone.
18.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(sexual)
a. to come
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Se vino en tan solo unos minutos.She came in just a few minutes.
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poner(
poh
-
nehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to put
¿Dónde pones las llaves?Where do you put the keys?
b. to add
Si pones más peso, se romperá.If you add more weight, it will break.
2.
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
(figurative)
(to cause to be)
a. to put
Su renuncia me pone en una situación difícil.His resignation puts me in a difficult position.
a. to put on
Después de bañar a la bebé, hay que ponerle ropa limpia.After giving the baby a bath, you have to put some clean clothes on her.
a. to put
Es lógico que pongan allí un colegio nuevo.It makes sense to put a new school there.
a. to send
El mensaje que le puso era simple.The message he sent her was simple.
a. to give
Mi profesor me puso mala nota.My professor gave me a bad grade.
a. to lay
Las gallinas ponen un huevo al día.Hens lay one egg a day.
a. to put in
Podemos alquilar ese sitio si todos ponemos algo de dinero.We can rent the place if everybody puts in some cash.
a. to put on
Pon la televisión para ver las noticias.Put the television on to watch the news.
b. to turn on
¿Ponemos la calefacción?Shall we turn the heating on?
a. to call
Si tengo un niño le pondré Manuel, que es el nombre de mi padre.If I have a boy, I'll call him Manuel, which is my father's name.
b. to give
¿Qué nombre le van a poner a la niña? - Todavía no lo sabemos.What name are you going to give your baby? - We don't know yet.
a. to open
Sandy y su esposo van a poner una panadería en la calle principal.Sandy and her husband are going to open a bakery on main street.
ponerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to get
No te pongas impaciente conmigo cuando no has hecho nada para ayudar.Don't get impatient with me when you haven't done anything to help.
b. to be
No te pongas triste, cariño. Todo se arreglará.Don't be sad, sweetie. Everything will work out.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Me pongo furiosa con pensarlo.It makes me mad to think about it.
El perro siempre se pone feliz al verte.The dog's always happy to see you.
a. to turn
Se pone blando cuando se cocina.It turns soft when cooked.
a. to put on
Ponte la gabardina, está lloviendo.Put your raincoat on. It's raining.
a. to wear
Ya nunca me pongo ese vestido porque se ha quedado muy anticuado.I don't wear that dress anymore because it's very old-fashioned.
a. to move
Ponte un poco más a la derecha.Move a little more to the right.
a. to set
El sol se pone y entonces cae la noche.The sun sets and then night falls.
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