A question about Lesson 2.6 - The Preterite

Question

In Lesson 2.6, there are these two pictures:

First of all, shouldn't the 2nd picture be "murió" with a u?

And second, why is the 2nd picture reflexive and the first picture is not?

Surely those are both verbs that we do to ourselves. ¿No?

Answer 1

vxc, I beg to differ.

Answer 2

Yes, it should be "murió", and it is not reflexive, but pronominal, since you are not doing anything to yourself. "Morirse" focuses on the transition from being alive to being dead, since there are many ways of dying, but the mechanism does not make much sense with "nacer".

Answer 3

Lazarus,

I always make that mistake... as soon as I see "se", I think reflexive. If I do it, I'm sure others do that, too.

I know what the word "pronomial" means, and I know what the word "reflexive" means, but what the heck is the difference between the two in a sentence?

Is there an easy way to explain it?

Reflexive is just pronomial where the verb's object is the same as its subject. - pesta, Jun 3, 2011

I need more, I guess. Soon it will "click" I'm sure. Can you give me two sentences next to each other... one being pronomial that is not reflexive... and the other that is reflexive? - Tosh, Jun 3, 2011

Answer 4

the 2nd picture should not be a u its fine the way it is because if it was a u it would be a whole nother word ok and its not flexible

I beg to differ... see my next post. :) - Tosh, Jun 3, 2011

Incorrect answers don't usually earn points. And texting is forbidden - read the forum rules. Proper capitalization and spelling is required, because the site is for learners of English too - pesta, Jun 3, 2011