Yo vs. Me Siento
I am a relatively novice spanish speaker and I am having some trouble with yo vs. me in certain circumstances. A good example of what I am talking about is "no me siento bien" for I do not feel well. I was under the, apparently mistaken impression, that me was when you were receiving an action or the verb was reflexive, i.e. me gusta literally meaning "it pleases me" or me llamo meaning "I call myself"
Why then to say I feel "X" would you use me and not yo? e.g. "Yo siento muy mal." There are many other examples I cannot think of off the top of my head where this is the same case.
muchas gracias!!
4 Answers
Well, first of all, you're actually using both Yo and Me, but as is often the case, the Yo is implied/understood.
Beyond that, many verbs in Spanish are reflexive, even if it's not obvious in English.
(Yo) Me siento mal. I feel (to myself) bad.
(Yo) Me levanto. I get (myself) up.
Spanish often uses the reflexive where we'd merely use the intransitive (no object of verb), as in, "I get up"
In reality, it's just a matter of learning which verbs are commonly reflexive, and then just first accepting them, and then, over time, developing a feel for it where it seems natural.
Here you go. Enjoy.
Roger
This lesson might help; sentir vs sentirse.
Use 'SENTIRSE' if you are saying 'HOW' you feel?
(use sentirse with adjectives and adverbs)
No me siento bien. I don't feel well.
Me siento alegre. I feel happy.
Use 'SENTIR' if you are saying 'WHAT' you feel?
(use 'sentir' with nouns)
Siento mucho dolor en el estómago. I feel a lot of pain in my stomach.
No siento alegría. I don't feel happiness.
Sentía hambre. I felt hungry.
Tip to remember:
Rhyme 'what with not'.
How you feel 'is' reflexive (sentirSE)
What is not. (sentir)
When learning a new language, many things do not translate directly.
Acceptance is the key.
Also when it comes to yo vs me this might help.
