Monday 20 April 2015

Who Do You Envy?

Introduction


This post showcases/ highlights a typical use of the verb dar*.






SCENARIO

Imagine you are talking to a relative, a friend or a work colleague about everyday life.

At some point you intimate that perhaps sometimes you feel a bit envious. Seeking some clarification on that point, the other person says: "who do you envy?"

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
¿Quién te da envidia?

Alternatively, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say:
¿Quién le da (a usted) envidia?


OUR TIP

Answering this question should be straightforward. Naming a person may be sufficient. However, you may also use the expression dar envidia to make your point clearer.


Here are some examples of how you could use that expression:
  • Me da envidia mi amigo Pedro (my friend Pedro makes me feel envious)
  • Me da envidia mi amiga Ana (my friend Ana makes me feel envious)
  • Me da envidia mucha gente (many people make me feel envious);
  • Me da envidia muy poca gente (very few people make me feel envious);
  • No me da envidia nadie (nobody makes me feel envious)
  • Me dan envidia mis amigos Pedro y Ana (my friends Pedro and Ana make me feel envious)

Now you should practise answering the question:
¿Quién te da envidia?

*See uses of verb dar below

*Verb Dar - Typical Uses/ Expressions

Dar alcance a To catch up with someone/ something
Dar apuro To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Dar asco To cause nausea/ to make one feel nauseated
Dar calabazas To reject/ to give the brush off
Dar caña To hurry/ to harry/ to speed up
Dar celos To cause jealousy/ to make one feel jealous
Dar clase de To teach a subject
Dar corte To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Dar cosa To cause fear/ unease/ discomfort
Dar de alta To discharge/ To give the all clear (medical)
Dar de baja To give leave (medical)
Dar de sí To be elastic/ stretchable
Dar envidia To cause envy/ make one feel envy
Dar ganas de To feel like doing something
Dar miedo To cause fear/ to make one feel frightened
Dar pena To cause pity/ sadness
Dar rabia To anger/ to make one mad
Dar vergüenza To cause embarrassment/ to make one feel embarrassed
Darse cita To meet/ to come together
Darse prisa To hurry up
No dar abasto To be overloaded/ To be unable to cope


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