darnos
/DAR-nos/
to give us
Depicting an action where someone is giving something to us (indirect object).
darnos(verb)
to give us
?as an indirect object
to hand over to us
?transferring possession
,to offer us
?presenting something
📝 In Action
El profesor va a darnos la tarea mañana.
A1The teacher is going to give us the homework tomorrow.
¿Podrías darnos un poco más de tiempo para terminar?
A2Could you give us a little more time to finish?
Necesitas darnos la llave antes de irte.
A1You need to give us the key before you leave.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Attached Pronoun' Rule
When a verb is in the infinitive (like 'dar'), the pronoun 'nos' (us) is attached directly to the end, forming one word: 'darnos'. This is very common after verbs like 'ir a' or 'poder'.
Base Verb Irregularity
The base verb 'dar' is slightly irregular in the 'yo' present tense ('doy') and the preterite tense ('di'), which makes it unique among 'ar' verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mismatched Placement
Mistake: "Me va a dar (vs. Va a darnos)"
Correction: This is not a mistake, but a choice! You can say 'Va a darnos' (attached) OR 'Nos va a dar' (separated). Both mean 'He/She is going to give us'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Helping Verbs
If you are using a helping verb (like 'tener que' or 'querer'), 'darnos' is usually the simplest way to express the action: 'Queremos darnos un regalo' (We want to give ourselves a gift).
Illustrating the reflexive action of giving ourselves a reward or treat.
darnos(verb)
to give ourselves
?reflexive action
to afford ourselves
?granting a privilege
,to dedicate ourselves
?committing to an effort
📝 In Action
Necesitamos darnos un descanso después de tanto trabajo.
A2We need to give ourselves a break after so much work.
Deberíamos darnos el gusto de viajar este año.
B1We should afford ourselves the pleasure of traveling this year.
Vamos a darnos por vencidos si no encontramos la solución.
B2We are going to give up if we don't find the solution. (Idiomatic use of the reflexive 'darse por vencido')
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Action
When 'dar' is used reflexively (darse), it means 'we' are performing the action on 'us'. Think of it as 'We give to ourselves'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Meaning
Mistake: "Vamos a dar un descanso (We are going to give a break)"
Correction: Vamos a darnos un descanso (We are going to give ourselves a break). You must include 'nos' when the break is for you.
⭐ Usage Tips
Treat Yourself!
Use 'darnos un gusto' or 'darnos un capricho' anytime you want to talk about treating yourselves to something nice.
Representing the moment we realize something clearly.
📝 In Action
Es crucial darnos cuenta de lo importante que es el medio ambiente.
B1It is crucial for us to realize how important the environment is.
Al llegar, empezamos a darnos cuenta del error.
B2Upon arriving, we started to realize the mistake.
Después de leer el informe, pudimos darnos cuenta de la situación real.
B1After reading the report, we were able to realize the real situation.
💡 Grammar Points
Fixed Phrase
'Darse cuenta' is a fixed phrase, meaning its parts (dar + se + cuenta) must stay together to mean 'to realize'. You cannot separate 'cuenta' from the verb.
Using 'De'
When you realize something specific, you often need the small word 'de' (of) right after 'darnos cuenta': 'darnos cuenta de la verdad'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Vamos a dar cuenta de (We are going to give account of)"
Correction: Vamos a darnos cuenta de (We are going to realize). The 'nos' is essential here for the meaning 'to realize'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Realization vs. Understanding
'Darse cuenta' is used for a sudden awareness or discovery, while 'entender' or 'comprender' are used for general understanding.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: darnos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'darnos' in the idiomatic sense of 'to realize'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the pronoun attached to the end of 'dar'?
In Spanish, when you use a verb in its base form (infinitive), the pronouns (like 'nos') are usually attached directly to the end to form a single word. This is a common pattern for infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands.
Can I separate 'nos' from 'dar' in a sentence?
Yes, often! If you have a helping verb (like 'vamos a' or 'debemos'), you can either attach the pronoun ('Vamos a darnos...') or place it before the conjugated verb ('Nos vamos a dar...'). Both are correct and very common.