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-   -   “se hace el nudo de la corbata mil veces“ (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=20053)

“se hace el nudo de la corbata mil veces“


staytruejubing July 26, 2015 03:32 AM

“se hace el nudo de la corbata mil veces“
 
Hello, guys!
I read a sentence as the title shows. I am wondering why there is a "se" before hace coz hacer is not a reflective verb.
Can anybody help me to figure it out? Thanks a lot!!:)

Rusty July 26, 2015 06:01 AM

The pronoun 'se' has a lot of different uses. In this particular case, the structure is called 'pasiva refleja', which is translated exactly like the English passive voice.

se hace el nudo = the knot is tied

AngelicaDeAlquezar July 27, 2015 08:53 AM

Rusty is right that not all "se" are a part of reflexive constructions, and here, without further context, I also agree that for this sentence, "se" doesn't necessarily imply a reflexive verb. For example if this were written in the form of a list of instructions: "Para dar una buena imagen, se elige un color que combine con el traje y la camisa y se hace el nudo de la corbata mil veces, hasta que ésta queda perfecta".


However, for the kind of action the sentence is describing, this is actually a reflexive construction. It's not that a verb is reflexive or not, but the action on oneself that needs a reflexive formula.
I think this sentence is a part of a narration like "Juan está tan nervioso, que se hace el nudo de la corbata mil veces, y nunca queda satisfecho". The action of putting on a tie implies already a reflexive action: "me pongo una corbata" means I'm putting a tie on myself. So, tying the knot of a piece of clothing I'm wearing does need a reflexive construction.


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