How does adding "se" to "ser" change its meaning?

Question

How does adding "se" to "ser" change its meaning? I'm having trouble with this sentence: "Como fue para él padre y madre y todo lo que para un ser tan pequeño o desvalido puede serse en la vida."

Answer 1

Excellent question. The only other example I can think of is the "érase una vez" phrase.

"Como fue para él padre y madre y todo lo que para un ser tan pequeño o desvalido puede serse en la vida." ... "Since he was for him father and mother and everything that one could be for such a small or helpless creature." Maybe that makes sense?

By the way - welcome to the forum! I apologize in advance if my suggestion is way off base, but that's how I would interpret that sentence. Maybe with additional context it would be easier to pin it down.

Please keep the great questions coming!

Answer 2

"Como fue para él padre y madre y todo lo que para un ser tan pequeño o desvalido puede serse en la vida."

This sentence , is write , at the ancient castellano mode . I'm sure that you've taken it from an old book or text . Take a look on this way now :

"Como fue para él padre y madre , y todo lo que para un ser tan pequeño o desvalido, se puede ser en la vida."

It means the same , but your sentence is buid , at the " old stile" .

Answer 3

Thanks so much, mountaingirl -- that makes perfect sense and I'm sure is exactly what the sentence means. I really appreciate the help!