The correct expression in Spanish for taking action to achieve something is dar el paso (take the step), not tomar el paso. However, tomar el paso is often seen in media outlets like EL PAÍS, with examples such as, “La empresa ha tomado el paso de eliminar los anuncios políticos” (Fundéu RAE). This misuse is likely due to the frequent use of tomar with other nouns (e.g., tomar impulso) and a direct translation from the English phrase take a step.
According to the Nueva gramática de la lengua española, dar is the proper verb to pair with paso. For instance, the phrase “El gobierno ha dado el paso de regular los alquileres” is grammatically correct. Tomar is better suited for different contexts, like taking control of a space, as in tomar el paso (controlling a passage). An example from Cinco Días demonstrates proper usage: “El Ministerio de Trabajo ha dado el paso de aceptar ya la transposición de directivas europeas sobre la conciliación de la vida familiar y laboral” (Cinco Días).This shows how dar el paso accurately conveys the idea of implementing changes or reforms.
APA Citation for this page:
Kidhardt, P. (2024, September 7). Dar el paso vs. Tomar el paso: The correct usage for expressing action in Spanish. Spanish Academic. https://spanishacademic.com/dar-el-paso-vs-tomar-el-paso-the-correct-usage-for-expressing-action-in-spanish