estar atento

estar atento(

)

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

1. (to be perceptive)

a. to pay attention

Se notaba que al niño le gustaba el cuento que le leías. Estaba atento y no se perdía detalle.You could tell the child liked the story you were reading to him. He was paying attention and didn't miss a thing.

b. to be attentive

Silencio, Alberto. Si quieres aprender francés, tendrás que estar atento en clase.Keep silent, Alberto. If you want to learn French, you'll need to be attentive in class.

2. (to be vigilant)

a. to be on the lookout

Tenemos que estar atentos porque el autobús debe de estar a punto de llegar.We need to be on the lookout because the bus must be about to come.

b. to be on the alert

Nuestro hijo es propenso a las alergias, y el médico nos dijo que debíamos estar atentos.Our son is prone to allergies, and the doctor told us we should be on the alert.

3. (to be polite to; used with "con")

a. to be attentive to

El señor Gómez estuvo muy atento con nosotros: nos acompañó al hotel y se ofreció a enseñarnos la ciudad.Mr. Gomez was very attentive to us: he took us to our hotel and offered to show us around the city.

estarse atento

A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)

pronominal verb phrase

4. (to be perceptive)

a. to pay attention

Carlos, deja de hablar y estate atento porque lo que estoy explicando hoy puede salir en el examen.Carlos, keep quiet and pay attention because what I'm explaining today may come up in the exam.

5. (to be vigilant)

a. to stay alert

Con los niños, tienes que estarte siempre atento porque nunca sabes cuándo van a hacer una travesura.With children, you always have to stay alert because you never know when they're going to do something naughty.

Examples