Kilo Lingo
Spanish grammar Part of Chapter 44

CEFR B1-B2

3 min read

Test yourself (18 questions)

Common Spanish Collocations: tomar, hacer, dar + Noun

By Michael McGettrick and Sergio Linares-HernandesUpdated 12 October 2026

Spanish fixes which verb goes with which noun, and the pairs rarely match English. Translate the English verb and the sentence comes out grammatical and foreign:

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence uses the wrong verb. Tap it.

  • . - I have to make a decision.
  • ¿ ? - Can I ask a question?

Collocations at a glance

The pairs that catch English speakers most. The highlighted verb is the one Spanish uses.

the verb that goes with the nounWhat do the colours mean?
EnglishSpanish
make a decision
ask a question
go for a walk
take a photo
make a mistake
take a risk
pay attention
keep a promise
have a nap
be successful

There is no rule behind these. The noun decides the verb, so store them as pairs.

Make, take, do: tomar, hacer, dar, sacar

tomarhacerdarsacarWhat do the colours mean?

English spreads make, take, do and have over everything. Spanish splits the same nouns between four verbs, and the split does not follow the English:

VerbGoes withExample
a decision, a drink, the sun .
a question, a queue, notice¿ ?
a walk, thanks, a fright .
a photo, a mark, a conclusion .

Some more of each:

SpanishEnglish
to sunbathe
to take note
to queue (Spain)
to pack (a suitcase)
to take notice
to say thank you
to frighten
to draw conclusions
Six panels following the same woman with long hair and a bow through her day: the alarm clock rings beside her bed while she is still asleep; she stretches as she gets up, the sun at the window; she has breakfast at a table with a bowl, toast and a cup; she talks on the phone; she shops, holding a full bag in front of the shelves; she comes home to her house in the evening.
  1. .
  2. .
  3. .

Toma el desayuno: she has breakfast. Hace una llamada: she makes a phone call. Hace la compra: she does the shopping (Spain; much of Latin America says hacer las compras).

A photo changes with the country. works everywhere; Spain also says , and Latin America :

  • ¿ ? - Will you take a photo of me?

Cometer, correr, prestar: verbs English does not expect

the verb that goes with the nounWhat do the colours mean?

These nouns take a verb that English would never pick, so a word-for-word translation usually fails:

SpanishEnglishExample
to make a mistake .
to commit a crime .
to take a risk .
to pay attention , .
to keep quiet .
to keep a promise .
to lend a hand¿ ?
to have a nap .
to break a record .

does a second job worth knowing: with it means to turn an age.

  • . - I'm thirty today.

And covers some English "be" phrases: (to be successful), (to be careful).

  • . - The film was very successful.

Adjective + noun pairs

Adjectives collocate too. The plain version is correct but flat; the fixed pair is what you will read in a newspaper:

EnglishPlainFixed pair
a huge blunder garrafal
torrential rain torrencial
a resounding success rotundo

Rotundo also gives a flat refusal:

  • rotundo. - He/she gave me a flat no.

These are for recognising first. Use them once they sound natural to you.

Mistakes English speakers make

the verb that goes with the nounWhat do the colours mean?
WrongRightWhy
a decision is taken
a mistake is committed
attention is lent
a walk is given
a nap is thrown

What to do next

  1. When you meet a new noun, write it down with its verb: not , but .
  2. Do the sort and the story below.
  3. Then set phrases with tener, dar and hacer: , , .

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/6

Which verb goes with each noun?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence uses the wrong verb. Tap it.

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the verb that goes with each noun.

Pablo's Saturday

Por la mañana Pablo el sol en la playa. Después un paseo por el pueblo y fotos del mar. Por la tarde la maleta, porque mañana se va de viaje.

Gap 1 of 4

Matching

0/5

Match each collocation to its meaning.

Chapters 1 and 2 free

This article is one lesson in a whole course

Every grammar point has its own article and drill, and the course wraps them in graded stories, games and printable worksheets, in the order you need them.

Chapters 1 and 2 free, forever. Plus: 7 days free, then $5 a month for all eleven languages.

Start learning free

Spanish · Free printables

Practice worksheets and infographics

Practice worksheets with answer keys built in, plus infographic and listicle formats. Open any one to view, print or save.

Free for members

The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.

Start your free week

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions

What is a collocation?
A pair of words that go together by habit rather than logic. English makes a decision but takes a photo, and no rule says why. Spanish has its own pairs and they rarely match: (make a decision), (ask a question). Get one wrong and the sentence stays grammatical but sounds foreign.
Is it or ?
: (I have to make a decision). is a straight translation of make and is wrong. The same verb gives (to sunbathe) and (to take note).
How do you say take a photo in Spanish?
works everywhere: a (I am going to take a photo). Spain also says , and Latin America . All three are correct; is the one that is safe in every country.
How do you say make a mistake in Spanish?
: (I made a mistake). Mistakes and crimes are committed in Spanish, not made: (to commit a crime). (to get it wrong) is the everyday verb on its own: (I got it wrong).
How do you say pay attention in Spanish?
, literally lend attention: (pay attention). is a translation of the English and is wrong. is the everyday way to say take notice of someone: (he/she ignores me).