B1 Prepositions 10 min read Fácil

Averiguar: Descubrir información (Verbo Frasal)

¡Conviértete en un detective de la información! Con find out podrás descubrir cualquier hecho que necesites saber. ¡Es tu herramienta clave!

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'find out' when you discover new information or facts that you didn't know before.

  • Use it for facts, not physical objects. Example: 'I found out the truth.'
  • It is often followed by 'about' or a 'wh-' word. Example: 'Find out why.'
  • The past tense is 'found out'. Example: 'She found out yesterday.'
🧠 + 🔍 = Find Out

Overview

### Overview
El uso de los *phrasal verbs* es uno de los mayores desafíos para nosotros los hispanohablantes, porque en español no existe una estructura gramatical equivalente. En español, simplemente usamos verbos simples como descubrir, averiguar o enterarse. En inglés, en cambio, se añade una partícula (en este caso, out) que cambia completamente el matiz del verbo original.
Find out es un verbo compuesto transitivo que significa obtener información nueva, hechos o conocimiento, generalmente como resultado de una investigación, una pregunta o incluso por casualidad. Es fundamental en el nivel B1 porque marca la transición entre no saber algo y finalmente tener esa información.
¿Por qué es tan importante para ti? Porque en situaciones cotidianas —ya sea en la universidad, en el trabajo o chateando por WhatsApp—, constantemente estamos buscando datos. Si quieres decir
necesito saber qué hora es
, en inglés natural no dirías
I need to know what time it is
(aunque es gramaticalmente correcto, suena un poco estático).
Es mucho más dinámico decir
I need to find out what time it is
. Esta estructura implica que vas a realizar una pequeña acción para obtener esa respuesta. A diferencia del español, donde la conjugación verbal lleva todo el peso, en inglés el significado se construye mediante la combinación del verbo find y la partícula out.
Es como si el out sacara la información de un lugar oculto hacia la luz. Entender esto te ayudará a sonar mucho más fluido y menos como una traducción literal del español.
### How This Grammar Works
Find out funciona como una unidad semántica. El verbo find (encontrar) pierde su sentido de
hallar un objeto físico
y, al unirse con out, se convierte en un verbo mental o de procesamiento de información. En español, esto equivale a verbos como averiguar, enterarse o descubrir.
  1. 1Find out + Sustantivo: Se usa cuando buscas un dato concreto. Ejemplo: I need to find out the price (Necesito averiguar el precio). Aquí, el objeto es directo.
  1. 1Find out about + Sustantivo: Se usa cuando quieres información general sobre un tema. Ejemplo: I want to find out about the new project (Quiero informarme sobre el nuevo proyecto). Nota la diferencia: si es un dato exacto, no uses about; si es un tema amplio, sí.
  1. 1Find out + if/whether + Oración: Se usa para verificar una condición. Ejemplo: Find out if he is coming (Averigua si él viene). Es muy común en el trabajo para confirmar citas.
  1. 1Find out + wh-word (who, what, where, when, why, how): Esta es la forma más común. Ejemplo: I found out where she lives (Me enteré de dónde vive). ¡Ojo aquí! En español a veces usamos el subjuntivo o estructuras más complejas, pero en inglés, después de la wh-word, debes mantener el orden de sujeto + verbo (no inviertas como en una pregunta).
Respecto a la separabilidad: aunque algunos *phrasal verbs* permiten separar el verbo de la partícula, con find out es mejor mantenerlos juntos. Decir find the truth out suena muy forzado o arcaico. Para un nivel B1, mantén siempre find out como un bloque indivisible.
Es una regla de oro para sonar natural.
### Formation Pattern
La formación es sencilla porque solo conjugamos el verbo find. Recuerda que es un verbo irregular: find (presente), found (pasado), found (participio). La partícula out nunca cambia. Aquí tienes una tabla comparativa de las estructuras más usadas:
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | find/finds out | I always find out the truth. |
| Past Simple | found out | I found out yesterday. |
| Present Perfect | have/has found out | I have found out the secret. |
| Future Simple | will find out | I will find out tomorrow. |
| Continuous | am/is/are finding out | I am finding out the details. |
Como ves, la estructura es idéntica a cualquier otro verbo regular, solo debes recordar el pasado irregular found. No intentes conjugar el out (nunca digas finds outs o found outed), eso es un error común por intentar aplicar reglas de español donde todo se conjuga.
### When To Use It
Usamos find out cuando el conocimiento no es algo que ya tenías, sino algo que has obtenido mediante un proceso. Imagínate que estás en una cafetería y quieres saber si aceptan tarjetas. Dirías: I need to find out if they take cards.
No usarías know (saber) porque know implica que ya posees la información. Find out es el proceso de adquirirla.
Es ideal para:
  • Resolver problemas: We need to find out why the computer is slow.
  • Obtener noticias: Did you find out the results of the exam?
  • Investigar situaciones sociales: I just found out that Maria is moving to London.
Es una herramienta de comunicación activa. Mientras que learn (aprender) se usa para habilidades o estudios, find out se usa para hechos puntuales. Si dices I am finding out English, suena extraño; deberías decir I am learning English.
Pero si dices I am finding out how to use this app, es perfecto.
### Common Mistakes
  1. 1Confundir find out con figure out: Los estudiantes suelen mezclarlos. Find out es obtener información nueva (enterarse). Figure out es entender algo lógico o resolver un rompecabezas (descifrar/entender). Ejemplo de error: *
    I need to find out this math problem
    *. Lo correcto es figure out porque requiere razonamiento, no solo obtener un dato externo.
  1. 1Invertir el orden después de wh-word: Por influencia del español, tendemos a hacer la estructura de pregunta. Ejemplo de error: *
    I want to find out where is the station
    *. Lo correcto es where the station is. En inglés, al ser una oración subordinada, el verbo va al final.
  1. 1Traducir literalmente el enterarse: A veces, los hispanohablantes dicen *I entered myself* (un error gramatical grave). El verbo enter no significa enterarse. Find out es la forma correcta de expresar ese me enteré.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Es vital distinguir find out de otros verbos de conocimiento. Mira esta tabla:
| English Verb | Spanish Equivalent | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Find out | Averiguar / Enterarse | Obtener información nueva. |
| Figure out | Descifrar / Entender | Resolver un problema lógico. |
| Discover | Descubrir | Algo nuevo para el mundo o gran escala. |
| Learn | Aprender | Estudiar una habilidad o materia. |
### Quick FAQ
  1. 1¿Puedo decir find out me? No. Find out no funciona así. Si quieres decir que te enteraste de algo, usa I found out about it o simplemente I found out.
  1. 1¿Es find out muy informal? No, es neutro. Se puede usar tanto en una conversación de WhatsApp con amigos como en un correo electrónico de trabajo. Es muy versátil.
  1. 1¿Debo usar find out o know? Usa know para estados permanentes (I know the answer). Usa find out para la acción de obtener ese conocimiento (I need to find out the answer).

Conjugating 'Find Out'

Tense Subject Form Example
Present Simple
I/You/We/They
find out
I find out the news every morning.
Present Simple
He/She/It
finds out
She finds out the truth eventually.
Past Simple
All subjects
found out
We found out about the meeting late.
Present Continuous
I
am finding out
I am finding out more every day.
Present Perfect
He/She/It
has found out
He has found out about the surprise.
Future (Will)
All subjects
will find out
They will find out tomorrow.
Gerund
N/A
finding out
Finding out the truth was a relief.
Infinitive
N/A
to find out
I want to find out the price.

Meanings

To gain knowledge of something or to discover a fact or piece of information.

1

General Discovery

To learn something new through study, observation, or inquiry.

“We may never find out the real reason for his resignation.”

“Can you find out when the next bus leaves?”

2

Uncovering Secrets

To discover that someone has done something wrong or is hiding something.

“He was cheating on the test, but the teacher found him out.”

“If you keep lying, someone will eventually find you out.”

3

Investigation

To make an effort to discover specific details about a situation.

“The police are trying to find out how the fire started.”

“I'll call the hotel to find out about their cancellation policy.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Averiguar: Descubrir información (Verbo Frasal)
Estructura Significado Ejemplo Contexto
Verb + Noun/Pronoun
Descubrir un hecho específico
`I need to find out her name.`
Obteniendo información de contacto básica
Verb + about + Noun
Aprender información general sobre un tema
`Let's find out about the new policy.`
Investigando un asunto
Verb + if/whether + Clause
Determinar una condición/verdad
`Can you find out if she's free?`
Verificando disponibilidad
Verb + wh-word + Clause
Descubrir detalles específicos
`We found out where they live.`
Escenario de investigación
Verb + Noun + (optional) out
Menos común, pero posible con pronombres cortos
`I'll find it out.` (Más común: `I'll find out about it.`)
Uso de pronombres (raro)
Find out the hard way
Aprender de una experiencia negativa
`He found out the hard way.`
Consecuencias de las acciones

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
We must ascertain the cause of the error.

We must ascertain the cause of the error. (Workplace)

Neutral
We need to find out why the error happened.

We need to find out why the error happened. (Workplace)

Informal
Let's see what's up with this error.

Let's see what's up with this error. (Workplace)

Jerga
Let's suss out why it's broken.

Let's suss out why it's broken. (Workplace)

El Centro de Información 'Find Out'

FIND OUT

Qué Significa

  • Discover desvelar hechos
  • Learn adquirir conocimiento
  • Obtain conseguir detalles

Cómo se Usa

  • Specific Fact find out her name
  • General Topic find out about a project
  • Conditions find out if it's true

Contraste Clave

  • VS. Figure Out resolviendo un problema
  • VS. Discover gran, nueva revelación
  • VS. Learn adquirir habilidad/materia

'Find Out' vs. La Familia de la Información

Find Out
Discover facts Descubrir hechos: I found out his age.
Get details Obtener detalles: Find out about the event.
Figure Out
Solve problem Resolver problema: Figure out the puzzle.
Understand Entender: Figure out why it broke.
Discover
New/Rare Nuevo/Raro: Discovered a new species.
Significant Significativo: Discovered electricity.
Learn
Acquire skill Adquirir habilidad: Learn to play guitar.
Study subject Estudiar materia: Learn about history.

¿Cuándo Usar 'Find Out'?

1

¿Necesitas hechos o detalles específicos?

YES
Ve a 'Find Out'.
NO
Ve al siguiente paso.
2

¿Estás tratando de resolver un problema o entender cómo funciona algo?

YES
Usa 'Figure Out'.
NO
Ve al siguiente paso.
3

¿Estás adquiriendo una nueva habilidad o conocimiento amplio con el tiempo?

YES
Usa 'Learn'.
NO
Considera 'Discover' para revelaciones importantes y nuevas.

Dónde 'Find Out' Información

🏡

Vida Personal

  • Detalles de la fiesta
  • Noticias de amigos
  • Horario de restaurantes
🏢

Trabajo/Estudio

  • Actualizaciones del proyecto
  • Resultados de exámenes
  • Horario de reuniones
📱

Mundo Digital

  • Info de apps
  • Tendencias en redes sociales
  • Reseñas online
🤔

Curiosidad

  • Hechos históricos
  • Descubrimientos científicos
  • Eventos locales

Ejemplos por nivel

1

I want to find out the name.

2

Did you find out the time?

3

He found out the truth.

4

We will find out soon.

1

Can you find out where the station is?

2

I need to find out about the party.

3

She didn't find out until yesterday.

4

They found out that the shop was closed.

1

I'll call the office to find out why the payment is late.

2

We need to find out whether the flight is delayed.

3

It's important to find out about the local customs before you travel.

4

How did you find out about our company?

1

The investigation was launched to find out the extent of the damage.

2

He was terrified that his colleagues would find him out.

3

Scientists are working to find out how the virus spreads.

4

Once the truth was found out, the scandal broke.

1

It took several weeks for the auditors to find out exactly where the money had gone.

2

The protagonist eventually finds out that his father is still alive.

3

We must find out what prompted such a drastic change in policy.

4

I was surprised to find out that she had been living a double life.

1

The sheer complexity of the case made it nearly impossible to find out the culprit's motives.

2

In the end, his hubris was his undoing, and he was found out by those he trusted most.

3

The study seeks to find out the correlation between socio-economic status and linguistic development.

4

One might find out, upon closer inspection, that the two theories are not so different.

Fácil de confundir

Find Out: Discovering Information (Phrasal Verb) vs Find vs. Find Out

Learners use 'find' for information or 'find out' for objects.

Find Out: Discovering Information (Phrasal Verb) vs Figure Out vs. Find Out

Both involve getting information, but the method is different.

Find Out: Discovering Information (Phrasal Verb) vs Learn vs. Find Out

Both involve new knowledge.

Errores comunes

I find the time.

I find out the time.

You need 'out' for information.

I found out my keys.

I found my keys.

Don't use 'out' for physical objects.

He find out.

He finds out.

Third person 's' is still required.

I find out it.

I found it out.

Usually we say 'I found out' or 'I found out about it'.

I found out where is the bus.

I found out where the bus is.

Use statement word order in indirect questions.

Did you found out?

Did you find out?

Use the base form after 'did'.

I want to find out about who won.

I want to find out who won.

Don't use 'about' before a 'wh-' clause.

I found out the information out.

I found out the information.

'Find out' is usually inseparable for information.

I learned that the price was $10.

I found out that the price was $10.

'Learn' is okay, but 'find out' is more natural for a single fact.

I found out him.

I found him out.

When catching someone in a lie, the pronoun goes in the middle.

The truth was found.

The truth was found out.

In the passive voice, 'out' is still necessary for information.

I found out the solution to the math problem.

I figured out the solution.

Use 'figure out' for things requiring mental effort/calculation.

Patrones de oraciones

I need to find out ___.

How did you find out about ___?

It was surprising to find out that ___.

We are trying to find out whether ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Find out what time we're meeting!

Job Interview common

I'd like to find out more about the team structure.

Travel/Tourism very common

Can you find out if breakfast is included?

Police/Legal occasional

We need to find out his whereabouts.

Academic Research common

The experiment was designed to find out the reaction time.

Customer Service very common

I'll find out why your order hasn't arrived yet.

💡

Piensa en una 'Búsqueda de Información'

Cuando estás en una misión para conseguir hechos o desvelar algo que no sabías, 'find out' es tu frase. No se trata de resolver un rompecabezas, sino de obtener datos.
I need to find out what time the store closes.
⚠️

¡No Confundir con 'Figure Out'!

Recuerda la regla de oro: tú 'find out' *qué* pasó (información), y tú 'figure out' *cómo* solucionarlo (una solución). Confundirlos es un tropiezo común.
I found out the answer
, pero
I figured out how to do it.
🎯

Usa 'about' para Temas Generales

Si buscas conocimiento general o detalles sobre un tema, siempre añade 'about'. Para hechos específicos, 'about' quizás no sea necesario.
Find out about the new movie
vs. "Find out the movie's showtimes."
🌍

Casual y Común

'Find out' es parte muy importante del inglés cotidiano y natural. Suena amigable y directo, perfecto para hablar con amigos o incluso en muchos contextos profesionales. "I'll find out and let you know."
💡

¡Alerta de Verbo Irregular!

¡No olvides que 'find' es irregular! Se convierte en 'found' en pasado simple y participio. Presta atención a esos cambios de tiempo verbal para sonar super fluido.
Yesterday, I found out the results.

Smart Tips

Check if you are talking about a fact. If so, add 'out'. It sounds much more natural to native speakers.

I found the movie starts at 8. I found out the movie starts at 8.

You are 'finding out' information, not just 'finding' it. Use this to practice the distinction.

I'm finding the price on Google. I'm finding out the price on Google.

Be careful! 'Find out him' is wrong. 'Find him out' means you caught him lying.

I need to find out the new teacher. I need to find out about the new teacher.

Use 'find out whether' instead of 'find out if'.

Find out if they are coming. Find out whether they are coming.

Pronunciación

/faɪn.daʊt/

Linking

The 'd' in 'find' often links to the 'o' in 'out', sounding like 'fin-dout'.

find OUT

Stress

In phrasal verbs, the particle (out) often receives more stress than the verb.

Rising on 'out'

Did you find OUT? ↗

Asking a question with curiosity.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

To 'Find Out' is to bring information 'Out' into the light of your mind.

Asociación visual

Imagine a magnifying glass hovering over a lightbulb. The magnifying glass is 'finding' and the lightbulb turning on is the 'out' (the information becoming clear).

Rhyme

If it's a fact you doubt, you need to find it out!

Story

A detective was looking for a lost diamond. He 'found' the diamond under the rug. Then, he had to 'find out' who put it there by asking questions.

Word Web

DiscoverLearnUncoverRevealDetectAscertainFound out

Desafío

Go to a news website and find out three things that happened in a different country today. Write them down using 'I found out that...'

Notas culturales

The term 'suss out' is a common informal alternative to 'find out' in the UK.

Americans often use 'check out' or 'figure out' in contexts where 'find out' might also work, especially regarding logistics.

Privacy is valued; 'finding out' about someone's personal life without permission can be seen as 'prying'.

From Old English 'findan' (to come upon) and the adverb 'out' (expressing discovery/exposure).

Inicios de conversación

How did you find out about your favorite hobby?

What is something interesting you found out recently?

If you could find out any secret in the world, what would it be?

How do you usually find out the news?

Temas para diario

Write about a time you found out a secret. How did you feel?
Describe the process of finding out information for a school or work project.
What are the best ways to find out if a news story is true or fake?

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto


Incorrect

Correcto

Test Yourself

Elige la forma correcta para completar la oración.

Can you _____ what time the library closes?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: find out
'Find out' significa descubrir información. 'Figure out' significa resolver un problema. Aquí, quieres descubrir la hora de cierre. ¡Así de fácil!
Encuentra y corrige el error en la oración. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I need to figure out his address.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I need to find out his address.
Para descubrir una dirección, usa 'find out'. 'Figure out' es para resolver problemas o entender conceptos, no para obtener una pieza de información como una dirección. ¡Buena corrección!
¿Qué oración usa 'find out' correctamente? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She found out about the news yesterday.
'Find out about' es el phrasal verb correcto para descubrir información sobre un tema. 'Found' solo no es suficiente, y 'figured out' implica entender un problema, no recibir noticias. ¡Lo tienes!

Score: /3

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Choose the correct verb for the sentence. Opción múltiple

I need to ___ what time the train leaves.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: find out
We use 'find out' for information like train times.
Fill in the missing word.

She ___ out that her sister was pregnant yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: found
The sentence is in the past tense ('yesterday').
Correct the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I found out my lost wallet in the park.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I found my lost wallet
Use 'find' (not 'find out') for physical objects like a wallet.
Rewrite the sentence using 'find out'. Sentence Transformation

I discovered that the shop was closed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I found out that the shop was closed.
'Find out' is a more common, neutral synonym for 'discover'.
Match the beginning of the sentence to the end. Match Pairs

1. Find out... / 2. Find your... / 3. Find out about...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-why he left, 2-keys, 3-the history
'Find out' + wh-clause, 'Find' + object, 'Find out about' + topic.
Which sentence is correct? Opción múltiple

The detective is trying to...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: find out the truth.
'Find out' is usually inseparable when followed by a noun phrase.
Complete the question.

How did you find out ___ the accident?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: about
Use 'about' to refer to a general event or topic.
Choose the best response. Opción múltiple

Did you find out if she's coming?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, I found out.
The short answer uses the past tense 'found out'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Completa la oración con el phrasal verb correcto. Completar huecos

We need to _____ who ate the last slice of pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: find out
Corrige el error en la oración. Error Correction

Can you find if the store is open?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can you find out if the store is open?
Selecciona la oración que usa 'find out' apropiadamente. Opción múltiple

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He found out the secret by accident.
Traduce al inglés. Traducción

Translate into English: 'Ella quiere averiguar sobre el nuevo profesor.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["She wants to find out about the new professor.","She wants to find out about the new teacher."]
Ordena estas palabras para formar una oración. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We need to find out the truth.
Une los inicios de las oraciones con los finales correctos usando 'find out'. Match Pairs

Match the beginnings with the correct endings:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Elige la palabra más apropiada para completar la oración. Completar huecos

He tried to _____ why his flight was delayed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: find out
Identifica y corrige el uso incorrecto de 'find out'. Error Correction

I found out how to fix the broken chair.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I figured out how to fix the broken chair.
Traduce al inglés, usando 'find out'. Traducción

Translate into English: 'Ella va a enterarse de los resultados de su examen.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["She is going to find out her exam results.","She is going to find out about her exam results."]
¿Cuál de estas expresa la idea de descubrir información? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The detective found out the suspect's alibi.
Desordena las palabras para formar una pregunta coherente. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: When will we find out the report?

Score: /11

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

No, we usually say `find out about it` or `find it out` (though the latter is rare). Usually, we just say `find out` followed by a clause: `I found out that it was true.`

It is neutral. You can use it in conversation and in most business writing. For very formal academic papers, you might use `discover` or `ascertain`.

Use `find out` for information you get from someone else or a source. Use `figure out` for information you get by thinking or doing math.

Usually no. You say `find out the truth`, not `find the truth out`. However, if you mean 'catch someone in a lie', it is separable: `I found him out.`

Only if you mean discovering their secrets. If you are looking for a lost person, just use `find`.

No, it can be used alone. Example: `I don't know yet, but I'll find out.`

Use `about` for a general topic (`find out about the war`) and `that` for a specific fact (`find out that the war ended`).

Yes, but it's less common. `I am finding out new things every day` is correct.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Enterarse / Averiguar

Spanish doesn't use a 'verb + preposition' structure like English.

French low

Apprendre / Découvrir

The same French word can mean 'to learn' and 'to find out'.

German high

Herausfinden

The structure is almost identical to English.

Japanese low

知る (Shiru) / 分かる (Wakaru)

Japanese relies on verb aspect rather than prepositions.

Chinese moderate

发现 (Fāxiàn) / 查出 (Cháchū)

Chinese doesn't distinguish as strictly between physical finding and informational finding.

Arabic low

اكتشف (Yaktashif)

Arabic uses a single root-based verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
¡No hay comentarios todavía. Sé el primero en compartir tus ideas!