Flashcards Imperative and Pronouns

Question

Looking through the very helpful flashcard set for above could somebody explain the following please:

Use it = úsalo

Talk to him = háblale

But Drink it = bébetelo

My question is - is the te absolutely necessary. If so why is it not used in other similar examples, or is it being used as a form of emphasis?

Thanks for any advice

háblale bébetelo - 0074b507, Aug 31, 2010

Corrections made - thanks. - caza, Aug 31, 2010

Answer 1

My question is - is the te absolutely necessary. If so why is it not used in other similar examples, or is it being used as a form of emphasis?

That "te" is because you are not using the verb "beber", but "beberse", which is its pronominal counterpart. The latter form is by far the preferred form in spoken Spanish (maybe not so in formal Spanish) when you are talking about finishing a specific amount of food, but it cannot be used if you don't specify the amount, like in "I eat (some) rice". For many natives, using the simpler form ("beber)" with specific amounts to be finished could sound very strange sometimes.

So... absolutely necessary? No, but without it you may sound strange to some natives, and don't be surprised if they even correct you.

A reflexive form of beber does exist (beberse as the infinitive) but I am not aware of it being used in many, or rather any, situations.

Calling that verb "reflexive" is very misleading, because they is nothing reflexive in that verb -you are not drinking yourself. You better call it pronominal, and its translation, instead of "drink" would be closer to "drink up". That "te" does not mean "to oneself" any more that "up" in "drink up" does not indicate a vertical direction.

If I'm not mistaken, the "up" refers to the glass, as in "bottom's up", refering to the (inverted and) vertical direction that it takes to empty a glass. - Echoline, Aug 31, 2010

I found that a bit misleading in the Flashcards - thanks for your explanation. - caza, Sep 1, 2010

Answer 2

Good point! I am still learning spanish but the bebetelo doesn't sound very good to me. A reflexive form of beber does exist (beberse as the infinitive) but I am not aware of it being used in many, or rather any, situations.

If the example was to command a friend to drink a beer for example, I would use bebelo. But if they were to drink their own blood or urine maybe bebetelo is required - or maybe I am justa bit daft...

I don't think the "te" in this form and in this position acts as an emphasis though - rather as an indirect object pronoun.

bébelo - 0074b507, Aug 31, 2010