Pronominal verb

Question

In the August 3 "word of day" the word was "empeñar" and was described as a "pronominal verb". Is this the same as a "gustar-like" verb, where the speaker is acted on by the object?

Answer 1

In the August 3 "word of day" the word was "empeñar" and was described as a "pronominal verb". Is this the same as a "gustar-like" verb, where the speaker is acted on by the object?

"Empeñar" is not a pronominal verb... at all! As it stands, it is a transitive verb that means "to pledge" or "to engage".

"Empeñarse" is a pronominal verb (i.e the pronoun 'se' follows the verb), and this one means to insist (on) or to get oneself into debt.

"Gustar" is simply an intransitive verb which happens to have no exact counterpart in English, where many other verbs behave exactly like it, but there are no special name for them. For example, "disgust", "seem" and "hurt" are used like "gustar" all the time.

Thanks Lazurus. I went back and changed my answer. Stephen had given me crrection, but I missed the use of "se." - LaloLoco, Aug 3, 2011

Answer 2

So does that mean it is a reflexive verb? for example "me cepillo los dientes"

That's a reflexive construction, not a reflexive verb. The verb is simply transitive. - lazarus1907, Aug 3, 2011

Answer 3

No, it means that the subject performs the action on himself. You should go back to lesson 2.5

That is reflexive, not pronominal. - lazarus1907, Aug 3, 2011