Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


"no se me olvida.." ?

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 05, 2022, 09:17 PM
createdamadman createdamadman is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 85
createdamadman is on a distinguished road
"no se me olvida.." ?

I have this sentence in a short story:

"Ése fue otro día que no se me olvida.."

I get that it basically means "That is another day I will not forget", but the "se me olvida" is really throwing me off. Even if "olvidarse" is used, I would expect "no me olvido" or "no me olvidaré" or something similar. I figure the "olvida" is conjugated for "día" but I still can't quite make sense of it gramatically.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old August 06, 2022, 05:27 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
This is an example of the "no fault 'se'" (or "accidental 'se'") construction, used when talking about something that is not your fault, like when you drop a glass (se me cayó el vaso = I dropped the glass (by accident)).

It may seem strange to us English speakers, who always say "I dropped" or "I forgot," but to the Spanish speaker, forgetting or dropping something is never their fault. The blame is placed elsewhere (the pronoun 'se'). The 'me' part of the construction expresses whom (indirect object) was affected by the falling or forgetting.

The literal translations I see bandied about for the English-wired brain (like "It forgot itself on me" or "It dropped itself on me") don't make sense. So, my advice is to just learn how to use the "no fault" construction and never take blame for accidents or forgetting something when using Spanish.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 07, 2022, 09:26 PM
createdamadman createdamadman is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 85
createdamadman is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
This is an example of the "no fault 'se'" (or "accidental 'se'") construction, used when talking about something that is not your fault, like when you drop a glass (se me cayó el vaso = I dropped the glass (by accident)).

It may seem strange to us English speakers, who always say "I dropped" or "I forgot," but to the Spanish speaker, forgetting or dropping something is never their fault. The blame is placed elsewhere (the pronoun 'se'). The 'me' part of the construction expresses whom (indirect object) was affected by the falling or forgetting.

The literal translations I see bandied about for the English-wired brain (like "It forgot itself on me" or "It dropped itself on me") don't make sense. So, my advice is to just learn how to use the "no fault" construction and never take blame for accidents or forgetting something when using Spanish.
Okay thank you. I had actually learned of this construction a while back but this is the first time I've come across it and didn't catch it. There are actually instances where this sort of construction is used in English like "the glass went and fell on me", or in the case of my example, "this will not get lost on me", so this construction does make sense now that I understand it better. Thanks again
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 07, 2022, 09:34 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
You're welcome.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Una pregunta fácil sobre "es", "está","Qué", "A qué" BobRitter Grammar 1 November 14, 2016 08:22 AM
"Hacer falta", "faltar" y "necesitar" ratoygato Vocabulary 4 June 18, 2013 12:30 PM
En "courage", Sp "coraje" Old French "corage" pacomartin123 Vocabulary 5 June 29, 2012 06:46 AM
Homework help regarding the words "tener", "venir", "preferir", and "querer" cwlcwlspanish Practice & Homework 8 October 08, 2011 06:20 PM
Verbs like "lavar", "cepillar", y "despertar" laepelba Grammar 9 February 02, 2009 03:01 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:00 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X