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Silly question re. verbal reflexivity
¡Hola!
I would appreciate it if you could comment upon the following point to me: Deteriorarse is a reflexive verb. The gerund is formed: deterior + ando +se Now, I have this example (from a dictionary, under the entry deteriorarse): La situación se fue deteriorando. The situation gradually deteriorated / got gradually worse. According to this explanation: https://i126.fastpic.org/big/2025/09...6297ab2107.jpg Am I to assume that it is the verb irse that accounts for the reflexive particle se in the example above? I guess my question is kind of silly but where the other particle (deteriorandose) is and likewise tranquilizarse? Thank you. |
There are no silly questions, just silly answers.
You are right. The verbal periphrasis ir + gerundio describes the progression of an event. deteriorarse La situación se deterioró de repente La situación se fue deteriorando progresivamente Although technically right, the sentence La situación fue deteriorándose is hard to parse (¿fue deteriorando, what? Oh! itself!) The problem you described happens when the verb irse itself is involved Los alumnos se quieren ir ya used every day, it should be Los alumnos quieren irse ya. The students are in love with each other so we must go right now to chaperone them? (a comma was missed), or they just want to leave? Technically, the only case when such structure "is allowed" is with the pseudo-modal verb poder Los alumnos se pueden ir yet, nobody cares and that's right. As a funny local use ir yéndose nos vamos yendo nos fuimos yendo me voy yendo the last one is used daily to announce we're about to leave so we consider our present business has nearly come to an end. It's the emotional opposite to slamming the door while rushing our way out. Es irse sin apuro(s). Uso creativo de esa perífrasis verbal, si los hay |
Thank you, aleCcowaN.
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