Three cartoon characters are simultaneously handing colorful wrapped presents to a fourth, happy character, illustrating the concept of 'they give.'

dan

/dahn/

VerbA1irregular ar

they give?When talking about a group of people giving something.,you give?When talking to a group of people formally ('ustedes').

Also:they provide?More formal, like providing a service.,they throw?As in 'they throw a party'.,they produce?As in 'cows give milk'.

Quick Reference

infinitivedar

gerunddando

past Participledado

📝 In Action

Mis padres me dan regalos en mi cumpleaños.

My parents give me gifts on my birthday.

Ustedes siempre dan buenos consejos.

You all always give good advice.

Los árboles dan sombra en el parque.

The trees provide shade in the park.

Las ventanas dan a la calle principal.

The windows face the main street.

Word Connections

Synonyms

entregan (they hand over)
ofrecen (they offer)
proporcionan (they provide)

Antonyms

reciben (they receive)
quitan (they take away)

Common Collocations

dan las gracias – they give thanks
dan un paseo – they take a walk
dan una fiesta – they throw a party
dan miedo – they are scary (literally: they give fear)

Idioms & Expressions

dan gato por liebre – To trick or deceive someone by giving them something of lesser value than promised.

💡 Grammar Points

Who is 'dan' for?

'Dan' is the form of 'dar' (to give) used for two groups: 'ellos/ellas' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). The situation will tell you which one it is.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting 'Ustedes'

Mistake: "Thinking 'dan' only means 'they give'."

Correction: Remember to use 'dan' when speaking formally to a group of people. For instance, a waiter might ask a table, '¿Qué les dan de beber?' (What can I get you all to drink?).

⭐ Usage Tips

More Than Just 'Giving'

The verb 'dar' is super flexible. 'Dan' can also mean 'they produce' (Las gallinas dan huevos), 'they show' (Dan una película), or 'they face' (Las ventanas dan al sur).

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yodoy

túdas

él/ella/ustedda

nosotrosdamos

vosotrosdais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdan

preterite

yodi

túdiste

él/ella/usteddio

nosotrosdimos

vosotrosdisteis

ellos/ellas/ustedesdieron

imperfect

yodaba

túdabas

él/ella/usteddaba

nosotrosdábamos

vosotrosdabais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdaban

subjunctive

present

yodé

túdes

él/ella/usteddé

nosotrosdemos

vosotrosdeis

ellos/ellas/ustedesden

imperfect

yodiera

túdieras

él/ella/usteddiera

nosotrosdiéramos

vosotrosdierais

ellos/ellas/ustedesdieran

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dan

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'dan' to mean 'You all (formal) provide'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

dar(to give) - verb

dado(given) - adjective

dador(giver, donor) - noun

donación(donation) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'dan' and 'dais'?

'Dan' is used for 'ellos/ellas' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). 'Dais' is used for 'vosotros' (you all, informal), which is common in Spain but not in Latin America.

Is 'dan' ever used for a single person?

No, 'dan' is always for a group of people (they) or when speaking to a group (you all). For a single person, you would use 'da', as in 'Él da' (He gives) or 'Usted da' (You, formal, give).