Percatar

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for October 9, 2009

percatar (verb) — to realize, notice. Look up percatar in the dictionary

Estaba hablando con él y no me percaté de que su hermana estaba escuchando
I was talking with him and I didn't realize his sister was listening.

[laepelba]

Escrito originalmente por DailyWord

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for October 9, 2009

percatar (verb) — to realize, notice. Look up percatar in the dictionary

Estaba hablando con él y no me percaté de que su hermana estaba escuchando
I was talking with him and I didn't realize his sister was listening.

Okay, I'll be first. Will someone please explain the sentence structure to me?

I understand the first part: "Estaba hablando con él..."

And I understand why the daily word in question, percatar, has been conjugated in the first person preterite.

Here are my questions:
- Why the "me" pronoun? Is that the typical usage of this particular verb, "just because it is", or is there a particular reason in this case?
- Why the "de que"? Why not just "que"?

THANKS!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

You'll get a technical explanation from others, but basically:

"Percatarse" is a verb that is always pronominal; that is to say, it always needs a pronoun "me, te, se, nos...".

"Percatarse de (algo)" is the way sentences are built with this verb.

[laepelba]

Oh! That makes a lot of sense. So, should DailyWord have given it as "percatarse" instead of just "percatar"?

So I could say something like "Acabo de me percató de que el agua está hirviendo."

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por laepelba

Oh! That makes a lot of sense. So, should DailyWord have given it as "percatarse" instead of just "percatar"?

So I could say something like "Acabo de me percató de que el agua está hirviendo."

Acabo de percatarme de que el agua está hirviendo...

Me percaté de que el agua está hirviendo.

Makes sense?

[laepelba]

Escrito originalmente por chileno

Acabo de percatarme de que le agua esta hirviendo...

Me percate de que el agua esta hirviendo.

Makes sense?

I'm not sure ... let me try to figure out what you mean here:

At first I thought it was "Acabo de percatarme de que...", but I changed it. It actually makes more sense this way. Should I always follow "acabo de ..." with an infinitive?

In the first example, I do NOT understand why it is "le agua". ?? And, should it be "está" con acento in both examples? And should it be "percaté" in the second?

In giving me the two different examples, you're telling me two different ways of saying a very similar thing. In the first, "I just realized that...." and in the second "I realized that..." Really, the only difference being using "Acabo de percatarme de que ..." vs. "Me parcaté de que ...."

Right?

(Thanks, Hernán!)

[irmamar]

Escrito originalmente por laepelba

I'm not sure ... let me try to figure out what you mean here:

At first I thought it was "Acabo de percatarme de que...", but I changed it. It actually makes more sense this way. Should I always follow "acabo de ..." with an infinitive?

Yes

In the first example, I do NOT understand why it is "le agua". ?? And, should it be "está" con acento in both examples? And should it be "percaté" in the second?

It must be a typo, "el" instead of "le". And of course, "está" (verb estar). "Esta" would be a determinantv

In giving me the two different examples, you're telling me two different ways of saying a very similar thing. In the first, "I just realized that...." and in the second "I realized that..." Really, the only difference being using "Acabo de percatarme de que ..." vs. "Me parcaté de que ...."

Right?

(Thanks, Hernán!)

All right

[laepelba]

Excellent!! Thanks, Irma!!

[chileno]

Escrito originalmente por laepelba

I'm not sure ... let me try to figure out what you mean here:

At first I thought it was "Acabo de percatarme de que...", but I changed it. It actually makes more sense this way. Should I always follow "acabo de ..." with an infinitive?

In the first example, I do NOT understand why it is "le agua". ?? And, should it be "está" con acento in both examples? And should it be "percaté" in the second?

In giving me the two different examples, you're telling me two different ways of saying a very similar thing. In the first, "I just realized that...." and in the second "I realized that..." Really, the only difference being using "Acabo de percatarme de que ..." vs. "Me parcaté de que ...."

Right?

(Thanks, Hernán!)

I am sorry for not answering earlier/quicker but I have a cart in a mall in which I take and sell Antique Portraits. Yes laepelba I do photography too.. and sometimes I get very busy. And then, since my mind is somewhat feeble, I forget what I was doing...

@irmamar:

Thank you for answering and surmising that I had made mistakes by error.

not always is like that though...

[laepelba]

No apologies necessary. We all have "real" lives. Do you post your photography anywhere online? I'd love to see your work!!