Help me read the dictionary, please.
I wrote that an inanimate object "parece sacudir y brillar." I meant that it seems to shake and shine. A native speaker said I should have said "parece sacudirse y brillar." The dictionary gives three definitions for sacudir as a transitive verb, then the single word sacudirse. Does that mean sacudirse is a synonym? It then gives one definition for sacudir as a pronominal verb. Under that is an additional listing for sacudir as "article & verb transitive." What would "article" mean in this context? Finally, it gives a definition as "verb reflexive". This last definition (to reject) has nothing to do with what I meant to say. I think I am right and the native speaker is not, but I'm not sure because I don't know how to read the dictionary! Please help!
2 Answers
Reflexive verbs use the reflexive pronouns to indicate that the subject does the verb to itself. It doesn't always translate word-for-word into English.
Me cepillo los dientes = I brush my teeth
Cepillo el perro = I brush the dog
In this case, sacudirse means it shakes (itself) instead of it shakes (something else), like Julian said.
El perro se sacudió = The dog shook
El terremoto sacudió la ciudad = The earthquake shook the city
The native speaker is correct because your inanimate object shakes (shakes itself and not something else) and it shines (it doesn´t shine itself but it emits a shine/glow). This is why "Sacudir" must be reflexive (sacudirse) in this case.
