The verb tomar combines with different nouns to form expressions whose meaning depends on the whole phrase.

The idea

Tomar asiento means sit down, tomar un descanso means take a break, and tomar el sol means sunbathe.

Examples

  • Tomen asiento aquí, por favor.Please take a seat here.
  • Los invitados toman asiento en el salón.The guests take a seat in the hall.
  • Vamos a tomar un descanso después de comer.We are going to take a break after lunch.
  • Necesito tomar un descanso del trabajo.I need to take a break from work.
  • Ellos toman el sol en el jardín.They sunbathe in the garden.
  • A ella le gusta tomar el sol en la terraza.She likes sunbathing on the terrace.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not translate tomar identically in every expression; the following noun identifies the intended activity.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the expression inviting people to sit down. (Tomen asiento aquí. / Tomen el sol aquí.)

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    Tomen asiento aquí.

    Tomen asiento invites people to sit down.

  2. Choose the expression for a break from work. Necesito tomar ___ del trabajo. (un descanso / el sol)

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    un descanso

    Tomar un descanso describes taking a break from work.

  3. Choose the expression for sunbathing. A ella le gusta tomar ___ en la terraza. (el sol / asiento)

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    el sol

    Tomar el sol means spending time in the sun.

Use it today

Choose the expression that matches the situation and the meaning requested in each sentence.