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Reflexive verb helpThis is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
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#1
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Reflexive verb help
Hi all, I just joined and started searching threads on reflexive verbs, but still have some questions.
I am confused when to use them! For example, I hear Spanish speakers use both se me olvidó and me olvidé when they forget something. I was taught to say things like me olvidó el libro and me torció el tobillo, but I am confused about the differences between the following: se me olvidó/se me olvidé/me olvidó/me olvidé me torció el tobillo/me torcí el tobillo When do I need the se? when do the reflexive pronouns and the verb endings agree? and in general, when do I need a reflexive form. I hear it used in situations I didn´t realize it could be used. (I realize this is a lot of teaching to do, so please feel free to comment on any part of it) Thank you! |
#2
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Hi Anita, and welcome.
Reflexive verbs are a hard thing to wrap your mind around. Let me just give you some examples, based on the examples you gave. I hope it helps. se me olvidó la carta / se me olvidaron las cartas. The verb agrees with the subject, as you know, but the subject in this case is the letter/letters. This is like saying the letters were forgotten, and you are the innocent bystander. This is the normal way of saying you forgot something. If you want to emphasize the fact that you are responsible for forgetting the object, you could say: olvidé la carta / olvidé las cartas. Some corrections: me olvidó el libro. se me olvidó el libro. olvidé el libro. me torció el tobillo - he/she sprained my ankle me torcí el tobillo / se me torció el tobillo - I twisted my ankle se me olvidó I forgot it. se me olvidé me olvidó me olvidé (see note below about this) me torció el tobillo he/she/it twisted my ankle me torcí el tobillo I sprained my ankle. About me olvidé, olvidar + object is to forget something olvidarse de + object is to forget about something. They are not used interchangeably. Olvidé mi abrigo / se me olvidó mi abrigo - I forgot my overcoat. Me olvidé de él - I forgot about him. Quote:
Escribí una carta - I wrote a letter. Escribió una carta - He wrote a letter. Se escribió una carta - A letter was written. Fue escrita una carta - A letter was written. .... Did any of that make any sense?
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If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it! |
#3
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Reflexive Verbs........
A thorn on my side...... When both the object and subject are the same, then the verb is relfexive... i.e. I shave myself. I = subject shave = verb object = myself Se = when the verb is reflexive then the infinitive ends in 'se'. i.e. bañar = bañarse Ella fué a bañarse. OR Ella se fue a bañar. (both correct) lavar = lavarse El fué a lavarse la cara. (NUNCA: El fue a lavarse su cara) I also struggle with them but you know what they say.....Practice makes perfect.......La práctica hace al maestro. Ciao Elaina |
#4
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a thorn in my side Idioms will be the end of me.
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it! |
#5
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Thank you to both, this helps.
Just to follow up on a couple things in David´s reply- Me torcí ... is correct, but Me olvidé... is wrong because of the need to to use me olvidé + de, in the case of this specific verb. So I would say me olvidé de.... or just olvidé... Since olvidarse and olvidarse+de are not interchangeable, what are the rules about using one or the other? In the case of reflexive verbs in general, do I use me torcí, me lavé, me rompí, etc.? Thanks again. |
#6
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Quote:
I forgot my book - Olvidé mi libro (Se me olvidó mi libro) I forgot to bring the camera - Olvidé traer la cámara (Se me olvidó traer la cámara) I forgot to turn off the stove - Olvidé apagar la estufa (Se me olvidó apagar la estufa) I don't want to forget about him - No quiero olvidarme de él Don't forget about the homework - No te olvides de la tarea. Don't forget about me - No te olvides de mí. So: olvidarse de algo/alguien = to forget about something/someone olvidar algo = to forget something olvidársele algo a alguien = to forget something (for something to be forgotten) Yep, you´ve got it
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If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it! |
#7
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perfect.
Thanks! |
#8
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Gracias por eso. I was looking for how to say that!
Last edited by WMX; September 20, 2007 at 04:12 PM. Reason: i messed up the quote code. |
#9
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Wow, that's very helpful stuff.
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pronomial verbs, reflexive verbs |
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