Reflexive verbs and se
If there 'aren't really any reflexive verbs' (as has been noted in other posts), why do we use 'se' for the third person instead of the direct or indirect object pronouns?
3 Answers
If there 'aren't really any reflexive verbs' (as has been noted in other posts), why do we use 'se' for the third person instead of the direct or indirect object pronouns?
In a sentence like "Se lava", "se" is the direct object, and in "Se lava la cara", "se" is the indirect object, and in "se arrepiente" that "se" has no syntactic function (eg. object, subject,...) -it is simply part of the verb. "Se" is can be a third person direct or indirect object, or it can be part of the verb without any syntactic function.
Why we use it instead of "lo", "la"? Because "lo" is when someone does something to him, "la" when someone does it to her, and "se" when someone does it to himself or herself. In these cases it doesn't make sense to talk about reflexive verbs, but reflexive pronouns used with a normal verb with the usual meaning.
The definition of what is a reflexive verb may depend on whom you ask.
Some will tell you that a reflexive verb is any verb used pronominally in conjunction with a reflexive pronoun.
Others will tell you that a reflexive verb are those verbs that change meaning when used pronominally, not those that use a reflexive pronouns to form the reflexive, reciprocal, passive reflexive, detransitizing, etc. verb construction. Verbs like comerse, olvidarse, ponerse which take on a pronominal meaning of completeness, unforeseen circumstance, abruptness, etc.
Still others will tell you that only the verbs that are always used pronominally (they have no non-pronominal usage) are truly reflexive verbs.
Another definition is only those pronominal verbs that are truly reflexive (subject and object are receivers of the verb's action) should be called reflexive verbs.
And, as mentioned, another viewpoint is that there are no reflexive verbs, but only regular verbs being used reflexively. In other words, ir and irse are the same verb, one is being used pronominally and one is not.
So when discussing reflexive verbs it is helpful, if you include some definition of what you consider to be a reflexive verb or misunderstandings will arise because of arguments based on different premises.
I've always referred to them as reflexive verbs, but I guess technically they're not. It's the pronouns like me, te, se, etc., that are reflexive. Or so people who know more than me tell me.
