Overview
The verb dar means to give in English. It is an irregular verb commonly used in everyday Spanish to express the act of giving or offering something to someone. Despite being irregular, it has a straightforward conjugation pattern that is essential for learners to master early on.
Present Tense
In the present tense, dar behaves irregularly mainly with the first-person singular form, while other forms follow a consistent pattern. It is used to express current giving actions or habitual giving.
Preterite Tense
The preterite tense of dar is irregular, showing distinct conjugation patterns different from regular -ar verbs. It is used to describe past completed actions of giving.
Imperfect Tense
Dar in the imperfect tense is regular for the most part and used to describe habitual or continuous past giving actions. It expresses "was giving" or "used to give."
Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive of dar is irregular and necessary for expressing desires, doubts, or hypothetical giving scenarios.
Conjugation Table
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | doy | I give | Yo doy un regalo a mi madre. | I give a gift to my mother. |
| tú | das | you give | Tú das un libro a Juan. | You give a book to Juan. |
| él / ella / Ud. | da | he/she/you (formal) gives | Ella da comida a los perros. | She gives food to the dogs. |
| nosotros/as | damos | we give | Nosotros damos ayuda a ellos. | We give help to them. |
| vosotros/as | dais | you all give | Vosotros dais una sorpresa. | You all give a surprise. |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | dan | they/you all give | Ellos dan clases de español. | They give Spanish classes. |
Practical Usage Examples
Dar is commonly used in everyday phrases like dar un regalo (to give a gift), dar una mano (to give a hand/help), and dar una vuelta (to take a walk). Mastering its conjugation and uses will greatly enhance communication skills in Spanish.
