dar por sentado
verbCEFR B2
What does “dar por sentado” mean in English?
to take for granted, to assume as given
to take for granted, to assume as given (unexamined assumption presented as fact; agreement with noun when not + que)
Example sentences
Damos por sentado que la tecnología resolverá todos los problemas, pero eso no es necesariamente cierto.
We take it for granted that technology will solve all problems, but that isn't necessarily true.
No des por sentada su disponibilidad; es mejor confirmarlo antes.
Don't take his availability for granted; it's better to confirm first.
Durante años se dio por sentado que el modelo era sostenible. Los datos de hoy lo cuestionan.
For years it was taken for granted that the model was sustainable. Today's data questions that.
How to use it
Dar por sentado means 'to take for granted', 'to assume as given'. It is used to describe treating something as established fact when it may not be. Construction: dar por sentado + que-clause (indicative) or dar por sentado + noun. 'No des por sentado que todos estarán de acuerdo' — the indicative follows because the content is presented as if it were fact. Contrast with suponer (to suppose, more tentative) and asumir (to assume, increasingly used in formal Spanish influenced by English).
Common mistake
Agreement: dar por sentado/sentada/sentados/sentadas must agree with the noun it modifies when not followed by que. With que + clause, use the masculine singular: dar por sentado que. Don't confuse with asumir — in formal Spanish, asumir means 'to take on/take charge of', not 'to assume'. The anglicism 'asumir que X' is spreading but is still marked as informal in careful style.