levanto ( i lift ) me levanto
levanto i lift and me levanto i can understand it means i get up as it means i lift myself but in the case of desayuno and me desayuno i dont understand how the logic works. thanks.
13 Answers
The pronominal use of verbs (used with the reflexive pronoun) does not always mean that the verb is reflexive. The pronoun can be used to show reciprocity, impersonal use, passive voice, to detransitize the meaning, to show abruptness, to express that you did something by accident, and a few other minor uses that we have discussed here in the past. Do not assume that just because you see a reflexive pronoun (also not an i.o. or d.o. object pronoun) that the verb is being used reflexively.
You must become one with the pronoun...think like it thinks...feel like it feels...see life through its eyes...let it fulfill its destiny. Then you will finally understand. There is no other way, Grasshoppa.
(Also, it helps to memorize the pronomial verb definitions, which are usually listed separately in most Spanish-English dictionaries).
Just look up the infinitive of the pronomial verb you're puzzling about. In this case, it is "irse." (Pronomial verbs always end with -se.) I just want to point out, however, that I do not personally translate this example as "to go." I think of the translation in more complex terms, such as, "to take a leave," as in "I took my leave." In the case of "comerse," you would not say "to eat oneself," as if it were reflexive (which it is not), but rather "to be eaten up."
I am sure that Qfreed's explanations must be good. But, I would like to discuss something that I have read.
Some examples of the use of pronoun when they are not with reflexive verbs: yo me voy al campo. It is the same as: yo voy al campo. "Voy" is not a reflexive verb.
I would define a reflexive verb as a verb in which the action falls on the subject that does it. Example: yo me lavo. Who do I wash?.
To start with, "yo me desayuno" = "yo desayuno". But "yo me desayuno" is not a reflexive verb.
Another example: yo me compré un vestido = yo compré un vestido.
Anyway, althought, it is true that some Spanish speakers use that expression "yo me desayuno" also it is true that, from my point of view, it does not sound very good.
Nila, you wouldn't say yo me comí un trozo de pan, comí is first person preterite of the verb comer and means I ate at some time in the past and that past could have been minutes ago days ago or whatever any way the point I am making is that all you need to say is comí un trozo de pan and you would then be saying I ate a piece of bread. And as for the verb ir it has two different forms which are: Ir = to go and Irse = to go away.
Samdie, actually, it is the same as "Spanish is spoken by the people who work in this store". It is similar to "the people who work in this store speak Spanish".
Spanish is spoken = se habla español
Although you do not say "here", this is the word that woud miss to express the complete idea. But we never say "aquí se habla español" but "se habla español". The expression is correct.
Here is an excellent list of pronominal verbs.
I must admit to a certain irritation to see nowadays the inaccurate expression "Hablamos Español" used under the same circumstances.
Assuming that two, or more, or the store's employees do, in fact, speak Spanish, what is inaccurate about their saying "We speak Spanish"?
If anything, I'd be more inclined to quibble with "Se habla español" (on the grounds of being unclear). I can imagine someone going into a store that had a sign with this formulation and asking "I know that Spanish (like all other living languages) is spoken but do you speak Spanish?"
." In the case of "comerse," you would not say "to eat oneself," as if it were reflexive (which it is not), but rather "to be eaten up."
Well, "to be eaten". That has been new for me. I have just learnt something new. Thank you.
By the way, is it correct to say "I lift myself"?. Is it the same as "I get up"?
I mean, I always say: I get up in the morning. I use "get up" to say that I have just got up from the bed.
Another good example of the pronomial which is commonly seen is "hablarse," which does not mean "to speak oneself" but "to be spoken." And so you will often see signs around town that say "Se Habla Español," loosely translated as "Spanish is spoken (here)" or more simply as "Spanish speaking." I must admit to a certain irritation to see nowadays the inaccurate expression "Hablamos Español" used under the same circumstances.
link text Here is a link. There is a different opinion about that.
I disagree with you. "Irse" cannot be a reflexive verb. Although you use a pronoun with a verb that doesn't mean that this verb becomes a reflexive verb.
"Comerse" is not a reflexive verb. Yo me comí un trozo de pan = yo comí un trozo de pan.
The action of eating falls on the piece of bread not on you.
"Voy" is not a reflexive verb. Yes you are right there, voy is not a reflexive verb it is a congugation of the verb Ir but if you prefix it with "me" as in me voy then you are using the verb Irse which is reflexive. And as for yo me desayuno that sounds like you are eating yourself for breakfast, desayunar is not a reflexive verb so you sat desayuno + whatever it is that you normally have e.g. normalmente desayuno con yogur, galletas y un té pero ayer desayuné con huevos y bacon.
