pedir or preguntar; other tricky pairs (llevar/traer)
Two verbs for 'ask', two for 'take/bring', and why Spanish says ¡Ya voy! for 'I'm coming!'
Part of the free A2 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
Some English verbs split into two Spanish verbs, and choosing the wrong one changes the meaning. This lesson covers the pairs English speakers mix up most.
Pedir or preguntar: two kinds of "ask"
Pedir = to ask for something, to request, to order. You want to get something (an object, help, a favour, food). It is a stem-changing verb, see Stem-changing verbs e → i (pedir, repetir): pido, pides, pide...; preterite pidió, pidieron.
- Voy a pedir una ensalada.I'm going to order a salad.
- Le pedí ayuda a mi vecino.I asked my neighbour for help.
Preguntar = to ask a question. You want information. It is regular.
- Le pregunté a Marta dónde vivía.I asked Marta where she lived.
- ¿Puedo preguntarte una cosa?Can I ask you something?
Preguntar por = to ask about or after someone or something.
- Tu abuelo siempre pregunta por ti.Your grandfather always asks after you.
You can also say hacer una pregunta (to ask a question): ¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta?
| You want... | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| something, help, food | pedir | pedir la cuenta |
| information | preguntar | preguntar la hora |
| news of someone | preguntar por | preguntar por tu madre |
Llevar or traer: take or bring
Think about where the speaker is.
- Traer = to bring something here, to where the speaker is. Irregular: traigo; preterite traje, trajo.
- Llevar = to take something there, away from where the speaker is.
- ¿Me traes el cargador, por favor?Can you bring me the charger, please?
- Mañana llevo el coche al taller.Tomorrow I'm taking the car to the garage.
Llevar also means to wear (Lleva un abrigo rojo) and is used for duration (How long: hace … que, desde hace, llevar + gerund).
Ir or venir: go or come
The same logic applies. Venir is movement towards the speaker. Ir is movement anywhere else, including towards the person you're talking to.
- ¿Vienes a mi casa esta noche?Are you coming to my place tonight?
So when someone calls you, Spanish answers from the caller's point of view and says voy:
- ¡Ya voy, mamá!I'm coming, Mum!
Latin America: coger and tomar
In Spain, coger means to take, catch, pick up: coger el autobús, coger el teléfono. In Mexico, Argentina and many other countries, coger is a vulgar word for sex. There, say tomar (tomar el autobús) or agarrar (agarrar un taxi). Tomar is understood and correct everywhere.
Common mistakes
Pregunté la cuenta→ Pedí la cuenta. You want the bill, not information.Le pedí qué hora era→ Le pregunté qué hora era. You want information.Pedí por mi abuelafor "I asked after my grandmother" → Pregunté por mi abuela.¡Ya vengo!for "I'm coming!" when called → ¡Ya voy! (Ahora vengo, and in many places ya vengo, means "I'll be right back".)Te traigo al aeropuertofor "I'll take you to the airport" → Te llevo al aeropuerto. You go there, away from here.
Practice
- En el restaurante, _____ la cuenta al camarero.Options: pedimos · preguntamos · preguntamos por · hicimos
Show the answer
pedimos — You want to get the bill: pedir.
- Le _____ (preguntar, yo) a un policía dónde estaba la estación.
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pregunté — You want information: preguntar. Preterite yo: pregunté (with the accent; pregunte without it is a different form).
- Cuando la llamo, mi tía siempre _____ por mis hijos.Options: pregunta · pide · lleva · trae
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pregunta — Preguntar por = to ask after someone.
- Si no sabes la respuesta, _____ al profesor.
Show the answer
pregunta — You want information: preguntar. Tú command: pregunta (or pregúntale, with the accent once le is attached).