reflexive pronouns (se) 3rd person

Question

I am having a difficult time understanding the 3rd person reflexive pronoun "se". I watched the video over and over and I am still not getting it. Can anyone help me with this please.

What does "se" mean? does "se" refer to IT or he/she or they. Maybe I am just thinking to hard. If you can help with examples it will be very helpful so that I may practice.

Por favor y Gracias!

Great question chella. - 0095ca4c, Jun 7, 2013

Answer 1

“Se” does many things:

As a reflexive pronoun, it serves as itself, himself, herself, themselves, and yourself/yourselves (only for the formal you- Usted and Ustedes, not for the informal). The dictionary here gives you a summary (just type in se in the dictionary box):

pronoun personal

1. (reflexivo) himself, (f) herself (de personas) (singular); themselves (plural); yourself (usted mismo); yourselves (ustedes
   

   mismos); itself (de cosas, animales) (singular); themselves (plural) se está lavando, está lavándose -> she is washing (herself) se lavó los dientes -> she cleaned her teeth espero que se diviertan -> I hope you enjoy yourselves el perro se lame -> the dog is licking itself se lame la herida -> it's licking its wound se levantaron y se fueron -> they got up and left

2. (reflexivo impersonal) oneself hay que afeitarse todos los días -> one has to shave every day, you have to shave every day

3.  (recíproco) each other, one another  se aman -> they love each other  se escriben cartas -> they write to each other 
   

4.  (impersonal)  en esta sociedad ya no se respeta a los ancianos -> in our society old people are no longer respected  se ha
   

   suspendido la reunión -> the meeting has been canceled se dice que… -> it is said that…, people say that… se prohíbe fumar -> no smoking (en cartel) se habla español -> Spanish spoken (en cartel)

5.  (    como complemento indirecto) (to) him, (f) (to) her (de personas) (singular); (to) them (plural); (to) it (de cosas, animales)
   

   (singular); (to) them (plural); (to) you (usted, ustedes) se lo dio -> he gave it to him/her/etc se lo dije, pero no me hizo caso -> I told her, but she didn't listen si usted quiere, yo se lo arreglo en un minuto -> if you like, I'll sort it out for you in a minute

The only thing I would add is that they do not point out that “se” only replaces “le” and “les” as the indirect object when directly followed by a direct object that starts with “l”- “la/lo/las/los”.

The written lessons here can be helpful as well:

enter link description here

At the link go down to the pronouns section, there are several different subjects explaining the differing uses noted above (“se” is in the title of 7 of them I think.)

Wow! this has helped a lot! Thank you! I see that se takes many forms and I will practice with the link. Gracias! - chellapadua, Jun 7, 2013

Answer 2

It's simpler than you think:

1. You can "bath" your children, or yourself, you can get dressed your self or get someone else dressed, you can shave yourself or your clients in a barbershop, you can look at yourself in the mirror or look at any other thing... The reflexive verbs are actions made and receive by the same person. (me, you, us...)

2. Reflexive verbs can also mean "each other". We kiss each other, they love each other, you guys fight each other...

Structure: (ducharse = to have a shower) (Yo) ME ducho (Tú) TE duchas (Él/Ella/Usted) SE ducha (Nosostros) NOS duchamos (Vosotros) OS ducháis (Ellos/Ellas/ Ustedes) SE duchan

Clear as mud?

Gracias! - chellapadua, Jun 19, 2013