On the same subject, of which I too despair, can anyone explain why my dictionary gives these two different examples of lack of possessive adjective?
Levantó los ojos del libro he raised his eyes from his book. Se levantó el sombrero he raised his hat. :thinking::thinking::thinking::thinking: |
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Levanta el sombrero de la silla. I don't know a good explanation to that question. Thinking a bit I've realised that usually you use pronominal verbs when you are talking about dressing or undressing (vestirse, desvestirse, ponerse o quitarse los zapatos, la camisa, etc.), I guess with a reflexive meaning, although it's used in reciprocal meanings, too. Maybe this could be an explanation of "levantarse el sombrero" or "quitarse el sombrero", though I can't be sure at all. :) |
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Please think about what I am going to say whether is correct or not in English. Raise your hand. = Levanta tu mano Raise the (left) hand = Levanta la mano (izquierda) I could've also used ...tu mano izquierda etc... On the reflexive is different La mano se levanta, y cae la guillotina. The hand raises (itself), and the guillotine falls. better? :) Quote:
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Does it work for you, if not let me know. |
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When you are sworn, do they say: Raise your left hand... or do they say Raise the left hand? Because after all you might get confused and take my left hand! uh! :D In any event, do not worry about if you would ever use it. I think it is grammatically correct to say "Raise the left hand..." Quote:
I have the feeling once you find out, you are going to feel bad. It has happened to me. Quote:
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As for the reason why there are no possessive adjectives in those sentences, the first one is more or less easy: his eyes, as a part of his body, are obviously his, so in this case, it is redundant to use possessive adjectives, unless one is making an emphasis. I think "del libro" instead of "su libro" is because the sentence "levantó los ojos de su libro" is ambiguous: his book's eyes? :eek: Standard Spanish correctness is supposed to avoid amphibological sentences. "Se levantó el sombrero" necessarily means he's wearing it, so one assumes it's his. If one says "levantó su sombrero", he's either wearing it or he's lifting it from the floor, a table or somewhere else. I hope I didn't make it more confusing. |
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By the way, some comedian on stage once said: Will all those who believe in telekinesis please raise my right hand. :D |
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I'll keep working on the pronominal vs. definite article stuff.... I'll get there eventually.... |
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If you're wearing your brother's hat, for instance, you "te levantas el sombrero". But if you see a hat on the floor, you "levantas el sombrero del suelo". :) |
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You obviously wouldn't find it in everyday speech in Spanish either, but that's where the richness of languages is. :) Quote:
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