High-frequency verb+preposition combinations that trip up English speakers
Spanish does not have phrasal verbs like English (get up, turn off). Instead, it uses verb + preposition/particle combinations where the preposition changes the meaning significantly. These must be learned as units.
contar (to count / tell) → contar con (to count on, rely on)
dar (to give) → dar con (to come across, find) · darse cuenta de (to realise)
salir (to leave) → salir con (to go out with, date) · salir adelante (to get through, succeed)
Three essential combinations with meanings that do not translate literally.
contar con: Siempre puedo contar con mis amigos. (I can always count on my friends.)
echar de menos: Echo de menos a mi familia. (I miss my family.) — verb + particle
darse cuenta de: No me di cuenta de que era tan tarde. (I didn't realise it was so late.)
These verbs form important combinations when combined with prepositions or adjectives.
llevar + time + gerundio: Llevo tres años estudiando español. (I have been studying for three years.)
ponerse a: Me puse a llorar. (I started to cry.) — sudden start of action
quedarse con: Me quedé con esa idea. (I kept / was left with that idea.)
quedarse sin: Me quedé sin palabras. (I was left speechless.)
Dar forms many high-frequency combinations at B2.
dar con: Al final di con la solución. (I finally came across / hit upon the solution.)
darse cuenta de: Se dio cuenta del error. (She realised the mistake.)
dar lugar a: Esto dio lugar a un malentendido. (This led to a misunderstanding.)
dar por: Lo dieron por perdido. (They gave it up as lost.)
More B2-level combinations with common verbs.
echar de menos: to miss someone/something
echar a perder: Echó a perder la oportunidad. (He wasted / ruined the opportunity.)
salir adelante: A pesar de todo, salieron adelante. (Despite everything, they got through.)
tirar de: Hay que tirar de imaginación. (You have to draw on imagination.)
Traps for English speakers
These are the errors English speakers make most often.