Verbs and other words change meaning when used with some prepositions. Let’s have a look at some of them.

1. deber

Deber – have to, must (obligation) – Debes estudiar mucho para la prueba. (You have to study a lot for the test.)

Deber de – must, should (probability) – Hoy no ha venido; debe de estar enferma. (She didn’t come today; she must be sick.)

2. dar

Darse a (to work hard, to start doing something vigorously) – Para no perder la beca, me daré al estudio. (I will study hard so I don’t lose my scholarship.) – Después de que su mujer lo abandonara, se dio a beber. (He started drinking after his wife left him.)

Darse con uno (to run into someone) – Se dieron con Rosa en la fiesta. (They ran into Rosa at the party.)

Dar por (to consider something finished) – Esta tarea la doy por concluida. (This task is over and done with.)

Darse sobre uno (to attack) – El perro se dio sobre el niño y casi lo mató. (The dog attacked the boy and almost killed him.)

Dar para (stretch to cover) – Nuestro presupuesto no da para comprar un coche nuevo. (Our budget is not enough to buy a new car.)

Nos vemos prontito.