In Spanish, "da" is a form of the verb "dar," which means "to give." Specifically, "da" is the third person singular conjugation in the present indicative tense. It can be translated to English as "he gives," "she gives," or "you give" (in the formal sense).
Usage and Examples
Third Person Singular:
- He/She Gives:
- "Él da un regalo a su amiga." (He gives a gift to his friend.)
- "Ella da clases de español." (She teaches Spanish classes.)
- He/She Gives:
- Formal You:
- You Give (formal):
- "Usted da muy buenas recomendaciones." (You give very good recommendations.)
- You Give (formal):
Conjugation Context
"Dar" is an irregular verb, and its conjugation in the present tense is as follows:
- Yo doy (I give)
- Tú das (You give, informal)
- Él/Ella/Usted da (He/She/You give, formal)
- Nosotros/Nosotras damos (We give)
- Vosotros/Vosotras dais (You all give, informal in Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dan (They/You all give)
Other Meanings and Uses
In addition to its direct meaning of "to give," "dar" can be part of various idiomatic expressions or collocations in Spanish:
- Dar la mano: To shake hands.
- Dar un paseo: To take a walk.
- Dar un consejo: To give advice.
- Dar miedo: To scare (literally, "to give fear").
Related Forms
The verb "dar" can also form other tenses and aspects:
- Preterite: "dio" (he/she gave)
- Future: "dará" (he/she will give)
- Conditional: "daría" (he/she would give)
Summary
"Da" is a versatile and commonly used verb in Spanish, essential for various contexts involving giving or providing something. Understanding its use and conjugation is crucial for effective communication in Spanish.