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Esa broma me daba risa, pero anoche me dio asco.

Esa broma me daba risa, pero anoche me dio asco.
That joke used to make me laugh, but last night it disgusted me.
From Lesson 265:Verbs of emotional reaction (dar)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Esa broma me daba risa, pero anoche me dio asco.

Why do we use dar in daba risa instead of a verb like hacer (to make)?
In Spanish, emotional and physical reactions are often expressed with the verb dar (to give) followed by a noun. So instead of saying a joke "makes" you laugh, you literally say it "gives" you laughter (dar risa).
Why does the first half use daba while the second half uses dio?
This highlights a change in your reaction using two past tenses. Daba is in the imperfect tense because it describes an ongoing state or habit in the past (it used to make you laugh). Dio is in the preterite tense because it describes a specific, completed reaction tied to a specific time (anoche, last night).
Why is me used before the verbs instead of yo?
Because you are the receiver of the emotion, not the subject doing the action. The joke (esa broma) is the subject doing the "giving," and it gives the feelings to you. The indirect object pronoun me shows who is receiving that laughter or disgust.
Does dar asco always mean "to disgust"?
Yes, it means to disgust, sicken, or gross out. Since asco means "disgust" or "revulsion," saying something gives you asco is much stronger than just saying you do not like it. It can be used for offensive jokes, as in this sentence, or for physical things like spoiled food.

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