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Using dar algo por + past participle/adjective

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2024-09-05
3 questions

Learn how to use the expression dar por in Spanish

In Spanish, to express that something is considered as "adjective or participle" we use this structure:

Dar algo/alguien por + past participle/adjective 

For example:

Lo dieron por muerto pero nunca apareció su cuerpo.They gave him up for dead but his body never showed up.

Decía tantas barbaridades que la daban por loca.She said so many outrageous things that they considered her crazy.

Probamos una y otra vez y al final lo dimos por imposible.We tried over and over and in the end we gave it up as impossible.

Los adolescentes dan por sentadas muchas cosas.Teenagers take a lot of things for granted.

Sometimes the verb dar is reflexive:

darse por + adjective/past participle

For example:

No te des por aludida porque no me estaba refiriendo a ti.Don't think it's about you because I wasn't referring to you.

Los clientes se dieron por satisfechos con el descuento que les hicimos.The clientes considered themselves satisfied with the discount we gave them.

Note that the adjective/participle needs to agree with the noun/person it is referring to.

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Examples and resources

Decía tantas barbaridades que la daban por loca.She said so many outrageous things that they considered her crazy.
Probamos una y otra vez y al final lo dimos por imposible.We tried over and over and in the end we gave it up as impossible.
Los clientes se dieron por satisfechos con el descuento que les hicimos.The clientes considered themselves satisfied with the discount we gave them.
No te des por aludida porque no me estaba refiriendo a ti.Don't think it's about you because I wasn't referring to you.
Los adolescentes dan por sentadas muchas cosas.Teenagers take a lot of things for granted.
Lo dieron por muerto pero nunca apareció su cuerpo.They gave him up for dead but his body never showed up.
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