Difference between "olvidar" and "olvidarse?"

Question

What is the difference between the two?

Isn't:

Olvidé las llaves.

the same as:

Me olvidé las llaves.

Thanks!

Answer 1

What’s really a twister is- “se me olvidaron las llaves”…

It is - I lost the keys...but, in this particular setting...the meaning is - the keys got lost and I’m the victim...it happened to me ?

Se olvidaron las llaves- Passive voice...The keys got lost

Olvidé las llaves - I lost the keys (i'm guilty)

Me olvidé las llaves - I lost the keys (not my fault...whoops)

perfect answer - BradyLabuda, Jul 31, 2012

This helps me a lot, thanks! - Tencinour, Jul 3, 2017

Answer 2

I suggest that you look here: http://learnenglishspanishonline.webs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/7908286-olvidar-vs-olvidarse-to-forget

Topic: Olvidar vs Olvidarse.

Thanks Ken :) - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 1, 2012

Very helpful breakdown...thanks! - Haaris2599, Oct 5, 2017

Answer 3

Without going into too much detail, you can say either one and they mean generally the same thing(although there could be a subtle difference between the two based on personal interpretation of the sentence). But remember that "olvidarse" is followed by the preposition "de". "Me olvidé de las llaves". You could also say "se me olvidaron las llaves", using the passive voice. With the passive voice the "de" is not necessary.

This is the correctone. - Daniela2041, Feb 23, 2017

Answer 4

This whole discussion seems strange to me. I believe "ovidar" means "to forget". Maybe I am wrong, but to say I lost my keys, I personally would say "Perdí mis llaves."

Answer 5

I am not sure about this but

Olvidé las llaves. = I lost the keys - but maybe it was not my fault. (they were stolen)

Me olvidé las llaves. = I lost the keys and it was my fault.

I would appreciate comments from native speakers.

ian-hill...I believe its just the reverse. Olvidarse omits to no fault. :) - viejito, Jul 31, 2012

oh :) - ian-hill, Jul 31, 2012

Answer 6

I guess the answer is yes and no. Generally, when you use the pronominal form, you are indicating that the is no direct object associated with the verb, just a general statement of forgetting. When used in the transitive form, it requires an object. In other words, you specifically forgot something.

That being said, you will find a lot of overlap in useage.

Me olvidé - I forgot (general statement)

Olvidé las llaves - I forgot the keys. (specific statement).

Hoefully, I have that right. Please correct me if I'm out in left field on this!