está vs se está

Question

Please explain está vs se está.
What is the difference between the two sentences below: "El hombre se está riendo." This sentence is from a book. "El hombre está riendo." This sentence is made by me, without "se."

Thanks, Sam

Answer 1

You would use "se está" if the verb in the progressive form is reflexive.

El hombre se está riendo

The verb here is reírse. When you use reflexive or pronominal verbs (-se) in the progressive tenses, you may either put the pronoun before the conjugated form of "estar" OR attached to the gerund.

So....

El hombre se está riendo OR El hombre está riéndose.

Again, the "se" in that first sentence you posted comes from the infinitive "reírse".

EDIT: If you're confused as to when to use "reír" vs. "reírse", read this page!

Answer 2

Sorry, I meant the difference between está vs se está.

I fixed your title. :) - Luciente, MAR 1, 2010

Answer 3

Doesn't the "se" before está mean that the action of the verbo is happening to, in this case, El hombre?

Answer 4

Hola Sam, and welcome to SpanishDict.

First of all, you can edit your own post by clicking the edit button. Please do that to correct your question.

But I've never seen se está used.

Where did you see it? Use it in a sentence for us.