Me Asusté

[deandddd]

Members of the Forum,

I am a little confused about the correct usage of the verb "asustar".

I was listening to a recorded conversation in which the person was telling about how she was scared by a ghost. The other person asked "what did you do?".

And she responded: "Asustarme, me asusté mucho". She just said that she became scared, she didn't name a third person or thing that scared her.

So I thought that it always has to be that way. For example, you always say "me alegro". You don't say "me alegra".

However, about three weeks ago I heard a lady in a movie on Canal UNO TVE say "¡me asustó!" (usted). She didn't say that she became scarded, she said that a second party answered the phone in such a way that the someone else scared her.

Any tips on how to use this verb, situations, or an example sentence?

Thanks,

Dean

[Rusty]

The difference is whether a pronominal verb is in use or not.
The pronominal asustarse is used to mean 'get scared/frightened.' The non-pronominal form asustar means 'scare/frighten.'
The lady in question got scared/frightened (by a ghost). If she wanted to say the ghost scared her, she would have used the non-pronominal "me asustó (el fantasma)."

"Me alegro" is a conjugation of the pronominal verb alegrarse, and it means "I am happy." The non-pronominal form can be used to express what makes someone happy, as in "Me alegra ir de compras" (Shopping makes me happy).

Pronominal and non-pronominal verbs often have different meanings.

[deandddd]

Rusty,

Thank you.

Dean

[Rusty]

You're welcome.

[deandddd]

Rusty,

One more thing.

Can I say "Me dio un susto"?

Dean

[Rusty]

Absolutely.

[deandddd]

Ok!

Dean