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JuanD
The Reflexive case in Spanish

I ask this to native speakers and language students.

Have you noticed how often do native speakers use the reflexive verbs and reflexive pronouns?

 

For example:

me voy a bañar

me voy a cambiar

nos vamos al cine

él se cayó del caballo

ellos se fueron de la fiesta

 

I had a problem explaining this subject when my language partner asked it to me. Specially using english, where it's uncommon saying this grammar structures.

Me camino en el parque - Is it correct? He asked. I tried to explain it, but I was really difficult.I've heard people, where my parents come from, saying: si me caminas mucho me regreso you can say si caminamos mucho me regreso which means: if we walk for a long time I'm coming back. The last sentence in spanish it's more easier to understand for me, of couse I do with the other but that is more a "complex/weird/rare" phrase.

Comments · 1

1

Hi Juan!

 

 That depends on the verb. For instance, notice these verbs and you'll instantaneously find the pattern:

 

-bañarse (oneself)/bañar (someone else)

-cambiarse (oneself)/cambiar (someone else)

-irse (from some place)/ir (somewhere)

-caerse /caer (from a practical point of view, both are interchangeable)

-irse/ir (again)

-caminarse (not possible, would be smth like walk on oneself)/ caminar (just walking)

 

The verbs you used in the examples were in their reflexive form (with their subtle meaning difference in most cases), a form that the verb "caminar" lacks.

 

HTH! :)

 

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