Essential English-Spanish Phrasal Verbs and Expressions

Classified in Spanish

Written on May 1, 2026 in English with a size of 3.83 KB

Essential English-Spanish Verb Phrases

To have an effect on sth: tener efecto sobre algo
To arrive in (country, city, continent, island): llegar a
To have sth left: quedar algo (e.g., I have five minutes left)
To take sth for granted (to assume): dar algo por hecho
To be determined to do sth: estar decidido a hacer algo
To give oneself a special treat: concederse un capricho
To become the talk of the town: estar en boca de todos
To arrive at (town, decision, airport, small place): llegar a
To ban sbdy from doing sth: prohibir a alguien hacer algo
To keep a project going: mantener un proyecto en marcha
To be good at (doing) sth: ser bueno en algo/haciendo algo
To lead a happy/sad/etc. life: llevar una vida feliz, triste, etc.
To keep in touch with sbdy: ponerse en contacto con alguien
To be worried about (doing) sth/sbdy (to worry about): estar preocupado por algo/alguien
Disgusting / revolting / horrible: repugnante, asqueroso (food)
To take sbdy for sbdy else: confundir a alguien por otra persona
To take the law into one's hands: tomarse la justicia por su mano
To find it easy/difficult to do sth: encontrar fácil/difícil hacer algo
To stop sbdy from doing sth: impedir, evitar que alguien haga algo
Off-licence: tienda donde se venden bebidas alcohólicas para llevar
To apologize to sbdy for doing sth: disculparse ante alguien por algo
To have a feeling that...: presentir que..., tener el presentimiento de que...
To come across sbdy/sth: encontrarse con alguien/algo por casualidad
Alone / on one's own / by oneself: solo (e.g., I did it by myself/on my own/alone)
To be (un)able to do sth (to be (in)capable of doing sth): ser (in)capaz de hacer algo
To be intended for: estar dirigido a (e.g., The programme is intended for teenagers)
To have difficulty in doing sth (to have trouble doing sth): tener dificultad al hacer algo
To boom: disfrutar de gran prosperidad, estar en alza (e.g., Comedy programmes are booming)
What's wrong with sbdy/sth...?: ¿Qué hay de malo en...? (e.g., What's wrong with smoking cigars?)
To be fed up with (doing) sth (to be bored with): estar harto de (hacer) algo/alguien
To enable sbdy to do sth (to allow/let sbdy do sth): permitir que alguien haga algo
To help it: evitarlo (e.g., I hate Peter. I can't help it) / Can't help doing sth: no poder evitar hacer algo
To try/do one's best to get sth: hacer todo lo que uno puede para conseguir algo
To have a reputation for (doing) sth: tener fama de (e.g., He has a reputation for being good with children)
To regard sth/sbdy as sth else: considerar algo/alguien como... (e.g., I have always regarded Mary as my best friend)
To devote one's life to (doing) sth: dedicar la vida de uno a hacer algo (e.g., I'd like to devote my life to investigation)
To be in one's early/mid/late fifties, sixties, etc.: Tener cincuenta y pocos/mediados los cincuenta/cincuenta y muchos

Related entries:

Tags: