Soportar (Tolerar)
aguantas annoyances, inconveniences o personas difíciles sin quejarte.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'put up with' to describe enduring something unpleasant without complaining, even when you don't like it.
- Always keep 'put', 'up', and 'with' together; never split them with an object.
- Follow 'with' with a noun or a gerund (-ing form), never a base verb.
- Use it for people, situations, or behaviors that are annoying but unavoidable.
Overview
put up with es una piedra angular en el nivel C1 de inglés, fundamental para expresar tolerancia, resignación o aguante ante situaciones o personas que nos resultan molestas, desagradables o difíciles. En español, no tenemos un equivalente exacto que sea una sola unidad léxica, sino que recurrimos a verbos como tolerar, aguantar, soportar o resignarse a. La diferencia clave es que put up with conlleva una carga emocional de esfuerzo personal y una decisión estratégica de permanecer en una situación incómoda porque, por el momento, no hay otra salida.tengo que aguantar a mi jefe.
I have to put up with my boss no solo traduce el concepto, sino que transmite esa sensación de cargar con algo que el verbo put (poner) implica implícitamente. Es un ejercicio de paciencia forzada. Entender que put up with no es solo tolerate, sino una forma de aceptar una carga, es lo que te permitirá sonar como un nativo en entornos de trabajo, viajes o relaciones personales.put up with es un three-part phrasal verb (verbo frasal de tres partes). A diferencia de los verbos simples en español, este se compone de un verbo base (put) y dos partículas (up y with). En español, nuestra gramática suele ser sintética; es decir, condensamos el significado en una sola palabra.put pierde su sentido literal de colocar algo en un lugarpara convertirse en un verbo de estado.
Up a menudo añade una idea de confrontación o de llegar al límite, y with establece la relación de asociación con el objeto que causa la molestia. Es crucial notar que, a diferencia de muchos otros phrasal verbs que pueden separarse (como turn off the light o turn the light off), put up with es inseparable.put y up ni entre up y with.Aguanto el ruido), en inglés el objeto debe seguir a toda la estructura: I put up with the noise. Si intentas separar los elementos, la oración pierde totalmente el sentido para un nativo. Esta rigidez estructural es una característica de los verbos frasales de tres partes, y es aquí donde muchos estudiantes fallan al intentar aplicar la flexibilidad sintáctica del español al inglés.put es un verbo irregular, pero su conjugación es sencilla porque no cambia en el pasado: put (presente), put (pasado), put (participio).aguantar esperar), pero en inglés, después de una preposición (en este caso with), es obligatorio usar el gerundio.put up with en situaciones donde la incomodidad es persistente.- 1Molestias recurrentes: Situaciones cotidianas que no puedes cambiar inmediatamente. Ejemplo:
I have to put up with the loud music from my neighbors every night.Aquí, el énfasis está en la resignación ante algo que ocurre repetidamente.
- 1Relaciones interpersonales: Cuando alguien tiene un comportamiento que no te gusta pero decides mantener la calma. Ejemplo:
It's hard to put up with his arrogance, but I do it for the project.
- 1Condiciones adversas: Cuando el entorno es hostil. Ejemplo:
We had to put up with the freezing temperatures during the camping trip.
Put up with implica que, aunque no te gusta, te quedas ahí.- 1Separación del verbo: El error más común por interferencia del español es intentar separar las partículas. Ejemplo incorrecto:
I can't put the noise up with.El cerebro del hispanohablante intenta tratarupywithcomo adverbios sueltos, pero en inglés son inseparables. Debes verput up withcomo una sola palabra de tres piezas.
- 1Confusión con
put up(alojar): Muchos estudiantes dicenI put up with my brother last weekendcuando quieren decir que le dieron alojamiento.Put upsignifica hospedar, mientras queput up withsignifica tolerar. ¡Imagínate la confusión si le dices a tu hermano que losoportasteen lugar dehospedarlo!
- 1Falta de objeto: En español podemos decir
No aguanto más
(omitiendo el objeto). En inglés,put up withes transitivo obligatorio. No puedes decirI can't put up with anymore. Debes añadir el objeto:I can't put up with this anymore.
I can't stand it. Más fuerte que put up with. |stand es de intensidad. I can't stand it implica que estás al borde de una explosión o que detestas algo profundamente. I put up with it implica que tienes la paciencia necesaria para seguir adelante a pesar de la molestia.- 1¿Puedo usar
put up withen voz pasiva? Sí, pero es poco común y suena muy formal. Ejemplo:The noise had to be put up with.Es preferible mantener la voz activa.
- 1¿Es
put up withdemasiado informal para un examen C1? No, es un phrasal verb muy común y aceptado en contextos académicos y profesionales, siempre que se use correctamente. Es mucho más natural que usar siempretolerate.
- 1¿Cómo sé si debo usar un gerundio después? Siempre que lo que toleres sea una acción. Si la acción es el objeto de tu paciencia, el verbo debe ir en
-ing. Ejemplo:I put up with working on weekends(Aguanto trabajar los fines de semana).
2. Negatives and Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
do not put up with
|
don't put up with
|
I don't put up with lies.
|
|
does not put up with
|
doesn't put up with
|
He doesn't put up with it.
|
|
did not put up with
|
didn't put up with
|
We didn't put up with it.
|
|
cannot put up with
|
can't put up with
|
I can't put up with this!
|
Conjugating 'Put up with'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
puts up with
|
the noise
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am putting up with
|
the noise
|
|
Present Perfect
|
She
|
has put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Future (Will)
|
They
|
will put up with
|
the noise
|
|
Gerund
|
N/A
|
putting up with
|
the noise
|
|
Infinitive
|
N/A
|
to put up with
|
the noise
|
Meanings
To accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining, despite not liking it.
Tolerating People
Enduring the difficult personality, habits, or presence of another individual.
“She has to put up with her boss's mood swings every morning.”
“I can't put up with roommates who don't do their dishes.”
Enduring Conditions
Accepting physical environments or circumstances that are uncomfortable.
“We had to put up with freezing temperatures during the hike.”
“The commuters put up with daily delays on the subway line.”
Accepting Behavior
Allowing a certain type of conduct to continue without intervention.
“The school will not put up with bullying of any kind.”
“I've put up with your excuses for three months now.”
Reference Table
| Situación | Expresión | Connotación | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ruido molesto
|
Put up with
|
Aceptación a regañadientes
|
I can't put up with their loud parties anymore.
|
|
Jefe difícil
|
Tolerate
|
Resistencia formal
|
Many employees tolerate poor management.
|
|
Dificultad prolongada
|
Endure
|
Sufriendo
|
She had to endure years of separation.
|
|
Verdad desagradable
|
Accept
|
Comprensión resignada
|
He accepted the harsh reality of the job.
|
|
Fuerte desagrado
|
Can't stand
|
Aversión intensa
|
I can't stand people who are always late.
|
|
Inconveniente menor
|
Put up with
|
Resistencia casual
|
You just have to put up with the wait.
|
Espectro de formalidad
I am obliged to tolerate my colleague's unprofessional conduct. (Workplace)
I have to put up with my coworker's behavior. (Workplace)
I've got to deal with my coworker's crap. (Workplace)
I'm just vibing through my coworker's drama. (Workplace)
Put Up With: La Red de Tolerancia
El 'Qué'
- Noise Sonidos fuertes
- Behavior Acciones molestas
- Conditions Circunstancias difíciles
El 'Por qué'
- No Choice Falta de alternativa
- Consequences Evitar un peor resultado
- Love/Loyalty Por relaciones
El 'Sentimiento'
- Resignation Aceptar el destino
- Annoyance Irritación sentida
- Patience Capacidad de esperar
Phrasal Verbs de Resistencia
¿Debería 'Put Up With' (Soportarlo)?
¿La situación o persona es desagradable/molesta?
¿Tienes opción de cambiarlo?
¿Lo estás aceptando/soportando sin quejarte activamente o cambiarlo?
Cosas que la gente 'soporta'
Lugar de trabajo
- • Carga de trabajo injusta
- • Café malo
- • Compañeros molestos
- • Computadora lenta
Vida social
- • Amigos poco fiables
- • Fiestas ruidosas
- • Silencios incómodos
- • Citas malas
Vida en casa
- • Compañeros de piso desordenados
- • Vecinos ruidosos
- • Tareas del hogar
- • Hábitos de la pareja
Espacios públicos
- • Transporte abarrotado
- • Colas largas
- • Mal servicio
- • Ruido público
Ejemplos por nivel
I put up with the rain.
I tolerate the rain.
She puts up with the cat.
She tolerates the cat.
Do you put up with the noise?
Do you tolerate the noise?
They do not put up with it.
They do not tolerate it.
I have to put up with my noisy neighbors.
I have to tolerate my noisy neighbors.
He puts up with a lot of work.
He endures a lot of work.
We put up with the small kitchen.
We accepted the small kitchen.
She didn't put up with the bad food.
She didn't tolerate the bad food.
I can't put up with your constant complaining anymore.
I can't tolerate your constant complaining anymore.
How long have you put up with that old car?
How long have you tolerated that old car?
She puts up with working on weekends because she needs the money.
She tolerates working on weekends because she needs the money.
The teacher won't put up with students being late.
The teacher won't tolerate students being late.
I don't know why she puts up with such a disrespectful partner.
I don't know why she tolerates such a disrespectful partner.
We've had to put up with a lot of bureaucracy to get this permit.
We've had to endure a lot of bureaucracy to get this permit.
If you want the promotion, you'll have to put up with some extra stress.
If you want the promotion, you'll have to tolerate some extra stress.
The residents are refusing to put up with the construction noise at night.
The residents are refusing to tolerate the construction noise at night.
In this industry, you're expected to put up with a certain degree of instability.
In this industry, you are expected to tolerate a certain degree of instability.
I'm amazed at the sheer volume of nonsense he's willing to put up with for that salary.
I am amazed at how much nonsense he is willing to tolerate for that salary.
The local government can no longer put up with the blatant disregard for environmental regulations.
The local government can no longer tolerate the clear ignoring of environmental rules.
Having to put up with his condescending tone was the final straw for me.
Having to tolerate his condescending tone was the last thing I could take.
The diplomatic corps must put up with a myriad of cultural idiosyncrasies to maintain peace.
The diplomatic corps must tolerate many cultural quirks to keep peace.
Whether the public will continue to put up with these austerity measures remains to be seen.
It is uncertain if the public will continue to tolerate these economic cuts.
She has stoically put up with years of systemic neglect within the organization.
She has patiently endured years of being ignored by the organization.
To succeed in academia, one often has to put up with the 'publish or perish' mentality.
To succeed in academia, one often has to tolerate the pressure to publish constantly.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often forget the 'with' and think 'put up' means tolerate.
Both mean tolerate, but 'stand' is almost always negative.
Both are three-part phrasal verbs starting with a verb and 'up with'.
Errores comunes
I put with the noise.
I put up with the noise.
I put up the noise.
I put up with the noise.
I put up with.
I put up with it.
He put up withs the rain.
He puts up with the rain.
I put up with to wait.
I put up with waiting.
I putted up with it.
I put up with it.
I am put up with it.
I am putting up with it.
I put it up with.
I put up with it.
I can't put up with his late.
I can't put up with his lateness.
I put up with him to smoke.
I put up with his smoking.
I will no longer put up with you to treat me like this.
I will no longer put up with you treating me like this.
The situation was put up with by me.
I put up with the situation.
I put up with his behavior, but I don't tolerate it.
I put up with his behavior (which means I tolerate it).
Patrones de oraciones
I can't put up with ___ anymore.
How do you put up with ___?
It's something you just have to put up with when you ___.
I'm not sure how much longer I can put up with ___.
Real World Usage
I'm able to put up with high-pressure environments and tight deadlines.
I can't put up with his drama anymore, honestly.
Why do we have to put up with these ads every 5 seconds?!
We had to put up with a 4-hour delay at the airport.
I won't put up with cold food when I'm paying for delivery.
I can put up with a small bedroom if the rent is cheap.
¡El contexto es clave!
¡No lo separes!
(Correcto) vs. I can't put rudeness up with" (Incorrecto).¡Abraza el 'Por qué'!
She puts up with his bad moods for the sake of their children.
Matices británicos vs. americanos
I have to put up with the heat every summer.
Los gerundios son tus amigos
Smart Tips
Replace 'I don't like' with 'I can't put up with'. It sounds more specific and idiomatic.
Always check for the -ing. If you say 'put up with to...', it's a major giveaway that you're translating from your native language.
Use 'put up with' to describe your resilience, but follow it with a positive result.
Consider switching 'put up with' back to 'tolerate' or 'endure' for a more academic tone.
Pronunciación
Stress Pattern
In 'put up with', the primary stress is usually on 'up'.
Linking
The 't' in 'put' often links to the 'u' in 'up', sounding like a soft 'd' in American English (flap T).
Rising-Falling on 'UP'
I can't put UP with it. ↘
Conveys frustration or a limit being reached.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Putting' a heavy box 'Up' on a shelf and staying 'With' it even though your arms hurt.
Asociación visual
Imagine yourself standing in the pouring rain with a small, broken umbrella. You aren't moving; you are just standing there, 'putting up with' the water hitting your face.
Rhyme
When things are bad and you must stay, you put up with them every day.
Story
John moved to a city with a lot of traffic. At first, he hated it. But he needed his job, so he decided to put up with the two-hour commute. He put up with the noise, he put up with the smog, and eventually, he just got used to it.
Word Web
Desafío
Write down three things you currently 'put up with' in your daily life (e.g., a slow computer, a long line at the coffee shop).
Notas culturales
Often associated with the 'stiff upper lip'—the idea of enduring hardship without complaining.
Frequently used in the context of 'customer service' and what a consumer should or should not have to endure.
Used to describe 'soft skills' and the ability to work in difficult teams.
The phrase 'put up' has many meanings in English dating back to the 1400s, often related to 'storing' or 'placing'. The specific idiom 'put up with' emerged in the mid-1800s.
Inicios de conversación
What is one thing about your city that you have to put up with?
Is there a habit of a friend that you find hard to put up with?
In your opinion, what should a professional never have to put up with at work?
How much noise can you put up with when you are trying to study?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
I can't ___ his constant complaining.
Find and fix the mistake:
She has to put her annoying roommate up with.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesShe has been ___ her noisy neighbors for three years.
Find and fix the mistake:
I can't put the cold weather up with anymore.
Choose the correct option:
I cannot tolerate his rudeness.
A: Your boss is so mean! How do you do it? B: ___
Select the valid object:
Match 'Put up with' to:
won't / I / that / with / up / put
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHow much noise can you ___ while studying?
We can't put anymore up with his rude comments.
Which sentence is correct?
No puedo tolerar el tráfico de la mañana.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the situations with common things to 'put up with':
Are you willing to ___ a difficult work environment for a good salary?
He's putting up with to much pressure at his new job.
Select the correct usage:
Tuve que soportar el comportamiento grosero de los clientes durante todo el turno.
Form a complete sentence:
Match the reasons for enduring with the situations:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
No, 'put up with' is a transitive verb, meaning it always needs an object. You must put up with *something* or *someone*. If the object is obvious, use 'it' (e.g., 'I can't put up with it').
It is neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in business meetings, emails, and casual conversation. 'Tolerate' is more formal/academic.
'Bear' is more formal and often used for heavy emotional suffering (e.g., 'I can't bear the pain'). 'Put up with' is for everyday annoyances.
No. Unlike some phrasal verbs, three-part phrasal verbs are always inseparable. The object must come after 'with'.
Quite the opposite! It implies you *don't* like it, but you are choosing (or forced) to accept it without complaining.
No, it is only used for unpleasant or annoying things. You wouldn't say 'I put up with this delicious cake'.
The meaning and grammar are identical in both dialects. It is a very stable idiom across the English-speaking world.
It is 'put up with'. The verb 'put' does not change in the past tense (e.g., 'Yesterday, I put up with his nonsense').
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
aguantar / soportar
English uses a three-word phrase; Spanish uses one word.
supporter / tolérer
The English 'support' means to help, while 'put up with' means to tolerate.
aushalten / sich abfinden mit
German word order changes significantly in subordinate clauses, unlike English phrasal verbs.
我慢する (gaman suru)
Japanese doesn't use particles like 'up' to modify the verb's core meaning.
يتحمل (yatahammal)
The metaphor in Arabic is 'carrying' a burden, while English is 'putting' it 'up'.
忍受 (rěnshòu)
Chinese grammar is isolating; English phrasal verbs are a major hurdle for Chinese speakers.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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