Unexpected Occurrences “Se” + Indirect Object + verb + subject.

Question

Unexpected Occurrences “Se” + Indirect Object + verb + subject.

This subject comes up so often that I thought it might be well to write a short article on it.

In English we occasionally say things like, “That just slipped out of my mind” for “I forgot that.” or “That glass just fell out of my hand.” and similar things. well in Spanish we do the same thing.

The construction always starts with “se” followed by the appropriate indirect object pronoun, followed by the verb. which is always followed by the subject.

EXAMPLES:

Ayer se me cayeron todos mis libros. (Literally “All my books fell from me”) (hiding the fact that I dropped my books.”

Teacher to student: “Olvidaste” la tarea, eh?” "No, maestra , es que se me olvidó." (no subject needed here as both know it"s the tarea.)

"You forgot the homework, eh?" "No, Teacher, it just slipped my mind."

Al lanzador del equipo de béisbol se le olvidaron las pelotas. It slipped the baseball pitcher’s mind to bring the balls. (He really just forgot them.)

A mí se me perdieron las llaves al carro. The keys to my car got lost. (Do you think that I would admit to losing them???)

Note: the “A” phrases are similar to the ones used with “gustar” and similar verbs.

A Pedro se le acabó el tiempo para terminar la prueba. Pedro ran out of time to finish the test.

(Sometimes an “a” phrase)+ Se +I/O + verb+subject.

Es todo por ahora, Chau.

This sounds interesting will check it out later F Y S . - ray76, Jun 3, 2017

Thanks for your help! - Kevin8460, Jun 3, 2017

You're welcome. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

I just fixed a couple of typos. Funny, nobody else caught them. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

I didn't catch them, Daniela, because I'm a slow reader. Great post! - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jun 3, 2017

Thanks Dani. :) - rac1, Jun 3, 2017

You're welcome. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Answer 1

Prometí responder a esto pero se me escapó de la mente.

I promised to answer this but it slipped my mind.

Jejejeje! You just said that your mind escaped from you. Just make it "de" la mente, and it will be OK. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

His mind escapes him from time to time. lol Not really, just playing with ya, Ray. :) - rac1, Jun 3, 2017

Glad that I can provide a little levity to the party ;) - ray76, Jun 4, 2017

You always do...you're a natural! - rac1, Jun 4, 2017

Answer 2

Muy interesante y bien claro, Daniela .

Thanks

Answer 3

Una excusa poco convincente:

La profesora: "¿Dónde están tus deberes Juan, los has olvidado hacer otra vez?"

A lame (poor) excuse:

The teacher: "Where is your homework John, have you forgotten to do it again?"

El estudiante (o alumno): "¡No señora Smith, nuestro perro comió todo anoche porque se me olvidó darle de comer!"

The student (pupil): "No, Mrs Smith, our dog ate it all up last night, because I forgot to feed the dog!"

It's not an important error, but you could put a "le" at the end of dar, like: (darle de comer). - Daniela2041 2 mins ago flag --and you needn't repeat "al perro" after "darle de comer" You already mentioned the dog---soooooo - Daniela2041 24 secs ago

Muchas gracias, Dani

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

:) - Daniela2041, Jul 5, 2017

Gracias, Dani ¿no he hecho ningún error! - FELIZ77, Jul 5, 2017

It's not an important error, but you could put a "le" at the end of dar, like: (darle de comer). - Daniela2041, Jul 5, 2017

--and you needn't repeat "al perro" after "darle de comer" You already mentioned the dog---soooooo :) - Daniela2041, Jul 5, 2017

Muchas gracias por tus correcciones, Dani :) - FELIZ77, Jul 5, 2017

Answer 4

A bump because there have been some questions on this lately.