What is the difference between "ir" and "irse".

Question

Please tell me in what situation I should use each one. I am feeling confused, because I don't know when to use reflexive verbs :(

Answer 1

Hi, Princess, welcome to the forum.

I've learned to use "ir" and "irse" like this:

If you're leaving and don't have a particular destination, you use "irse." For example, "MSee voy." You're saying "I'm going" but not saying where.

If you have a destination in mind, you'd use simply "ir." For example, "Voy a la tienda."

Edit: This can be used for everyone and in different tenses:

Se fue = he left

Se va = she's leaving

Se fueron = they left

Thanl you so much, Mariana! I couldn't imagine that it could be so easy! Muuuuuuuchas gracias. ¡Que tenga un bien día! - PrincessMariam, Aug 8, 2011

Oh, that's great! Thanks for an additional information :) - PrincessMariam, Aug 8, 2011

Answer 2

"Ir" is just "to go."

"Irse" means "to go out". It is specifically used when you plan to leave your current location for another location.

Cada día el hombre va a la tienda. Every day the man goes to the store.

Cada día el hombre se va a la tienda. Every day the man goes out to the store, perhaps from his house, perhaps from work. But implied is that he goes out from one place to the store.

In English one doesn't really make this distinction - "to go" and "to go out" can be the same - but in Spanish one does make the distinction.

I hope that is helpful.

¡Sí! This is Very very helpful! ¡Muchas gracias, Jeremias! - PrincessMariam, Aug 8, 2011

Answer 3

The verb "irse" is more like leaving than going. For irse, the focus is where you are not soon going to be (here), without specifying where you will actually go, just like Mariana stated in her post.

Muchas gracias, pesta! Now I got it! - PrincessMariam, Aug 8, 2011