llevarse a los niños? who is the se?

Question

Hi guys I just wanted to check my understanding here is correct. A man tells his wife it is ok for the grandmother to take the children. Sí, puede llevarse a los niños

Is the se in this sentence the children?

I can never seem to get my head around se any help would be great thank you.

Don't worry. I think "se" is the most complicated word in Spanish. - gringojrf, Mar 7, 2014

I agree. I have spent entire days studying it only to find myself more confused at the end of the night thaan in the morning. - mark1118, Mar 7, 2014

Answer 1

Sí, (ella, la abuela) puede llevarse (se, con ella, la abuela, consigo misma) a los niños.

Otro ejemplos:

Sí, (ella) puede llevarse (con ella) el coche.

Sí, (ellos) pueden llevarse (con ellos) los abrigos.

Gracias tiqui but - is the "se" absolutetly necessary ? - ian-hill, Mar 7, 2014

Sí, Ian. Con el "se" indica que se los lleva "con ella", acompañándolos. "llevar a los niños" indicaría que los "transporta" a otro sitio, como si fuera un taxista, p.e. - tiquismiquis, Mar 7, 2014

So in English. Without the "se" it is just giving them a ride and with the "se" it is including them in a group with her? - gringojrf, Mar 7, 2014

Got it - great stuff - gracias. - ian-hill, Mar 7, 2014

Nice :) - Kiwi-Girl, Mar 8, 2014

So, to copy the Spanish in English , it is ,-"She is taking them with her in the car " ? - ray76, Mar 8, 2014

Answer 2

llevar (take) se (to or with her) a los niños (the children, with the 'a' showing that they're not doing the taking but instead are the ones being taken.

Answer 3

Thank you so much tiquismiquis I totally understand it now!