llevar vs llevarse

Question 1

llevar vs. llevarse

Answer 1

Similar to the case of ir vs. irse, the pronominal form (llevarse) denotes a delimited event focusing on the departure from the origin, while llevar normally focuses on the destination of the movement. In some cases, both may be possible with only a slight difference in meaning.

Question 2

When neither the origin nor the destination is expressed explicitly, in the present or imperfect, llevar denotes

Llevarse, on the other hand, expresses a delimited event

Answer 2

an ongoing action that has no endpoint (atelic), usually translating as ‘to wear’, ‘to carry’ or ‘to have’; in the preterite or other perfect tenses, llevar normally implies a destination.

(telic), where the origin is implied, usually translating as ‘to take away (with oneself)’, or to ‘make off with’.

Question 3

I’ve got the money

-Se lo llevaron esposado — He was taken away in handcuffs

Answer 3

Yo llevo el dinero [≈Voy con el dinero; Véase llevar/tener]

Question 4

I’ll take/I’m taking the money (with me)

Answer 4

Yo me llevo el dinero—[≈Me voy con el dinero]

Question 5

I had the money (on me) [An open-ended activity]

Answer 5

Yo llevaba el dinero

Question 6

I was taking the money (away with me) [A delimited action seen as ongoing]

Answer 6

Yo me llevaba/estaba llevando el dinero

Question 7

I took the money

Answer 7

Yo llevé el dinero

[In preterite, ‘llevar’ implies a destination, for example: ¿Quién llevó el dinero al banco?]

Question 8

I took the money (with me)

Answer 8

→Yo me llevé el dinero [‘Llevarse’ is far more common in the preterite, since it denotes a one-off action; ¿Quién se llevó el dinero (de la caja)?

Question 9

He was wearing/carrying a leather jacket

Answer 9

-Llevaba un abrigo de piel — [≈Iba con un abrigo de piel]

Question 10

He was taking (away)/making off with a leather jacket

Answer 10

→Se llevaba/se estaba llevando un abrigo de piel - [≈Se iba con un abrigo de piel]

Question 11

He took a leather jacket

Answer 11

-Llevó un abrigo de piel

[In preterite, ‘llevar’ implies a destination, for example: ¿Qué llevó Juan de regalo?]

Question 12

He took/made off with a leather jacket

Answer 12

Se llevó un abrigo de piel

Question 13

They’ve taken her prisoner

Answer 13

Se la han llevado presa

Question 14

When the origin is expressed, but not the destination,

Answer 14

llevarse is usually the only option.

Question 15

Take this shit away (with you)

Answer 15

Llévate esta mierda de aquí

Question 16

There was a jacket on this table. Who took it?

Answer 16

Había un abrigo en esta mesa. ¿Quién se lo llevado (de aquí)?

Question 17

When the destination is expressed, often both are possible.

Answer 17

Once again, llevarse focuses on the removal of a thing from the origin, while llevar tends to focus on the destination of the movement.

Question 18

Take this to Juan’s house [Focus on the destination]

Answer 18

Lleva esto a casa de Juan

Question 19

Take this (with you) to Juan’s house [Focus on taking something away from here; sounds like the person is already leaving and possibly going to Juan’s house anyway]

Answer 19

Llévate esto a casa de Juan

Question 20

Since it was his birthday, he took the kid to New York

Answer 20

Como era su cumpleaños, llevó al niño a Nueva York —

Question 21

When they got divorced, the mother took the kid (with her) to New York [≈Se marchó con él]

Answer 21

Cuando se divorciaron, la madre se llevó al niño a Nueva York

Se lo llevó a Nueva York

Question 22

I’m going to a street party in Granada tomorrow. Do you mind if I take the car? [Focus on the destination of the car or driving the car (‘al botellón)]

Answer 22

Voy a un botellón mañana en Granada. ¿Te importa que lleve el coche? —

Question 23

I’m going to a street party in Granada tomorrow. Do you mind if I take the car (with me)? [Focus on the removal of the car from the origin]

Answer 23

Voy a un botellón mañana en Granada. ¿Te importa que me lleve el coche?

Question 24

Llevarse is also used figuratively in numerous expressions, often translating as ‘to get’.

Answer 24

Similar to English, it can also be used when talking about ‘taking sth positive away from a situation or experience’, as in the take-home message or lesson learned.

Question 25

He got/ received/ won/ walked away with first prize

Answer 25

-Se llevó el premio de oro —

Question 26

Russia has been worst affected/ has got the short end of the stick/ has borne the brunt of it

Answer 26

La peor parte se la ha llevado Rusia

Question 27

What are you going to take away from this experience?

Answer 27

¿De esta experiencia qué te llevas?

Question 28

For me it’s been all about /I’m going to cherish the love I’ve felt from the fans

Answer 28

-Me llevo el cariño de los aficionados —

Question 29

This last sentence best sums up the article for me

Answer 29

Del artículo me llevo esta última frase

Question 30

This last sentence best sums up the article for me

Answer 30

Del artículo me llevo esta última frase

Question 31

Remember: the ‘Se’ in llevarse may be pasiva refleja, posesivo or some other use.

Answer 31

• El pantalón de pitillo se lleva ahora — Skinny trousers are in fashion
• Se lleva bien con todo el mundo — He gets on well with everyone
• Le lleva 5 años — He’s 5 years older

→Se llevan 5 años — There’s a 5-year age gap

• El coche se llevó por delante a un perro — The car ran over a dog [See llevarse algo por delante]
• Se llevó las manos a la cabeza — He put is hands on his head [Dativo posesivo]
• Se llevó a cabo de noche — It was carried out at night [Pasiva refleja]

Question 32

Finally, the pronominal form of the verb traer expresses a similar idea, suggesting that someone has brought something with them (away from somewhere else).

Answer 32

Cuando se divorciaron, la madre se llevó al niño a Nueva York [Movement away from the speaker]

Cuando se divorciaron, la madre se trajo al niño aquí (desde Madrid) [Towards the speaker]

(Te) He traído las gafas, ahora dame el dinero — I’ve brought (you) the glasses. Now give me the money

Me he traído las gafas, por si acaso — I’ve brought my/the glasses (with me), just in case