Use of "se".

Question

Why do you say , they left as, "se fueron" and they stayed as, "se quedaron" but when saying, they talked, you say "hablaron" without using "se"?

Welcome to SpanishDict. Please take a moment to add your language proficiency to your profile. - rac1, Sep 25, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Sep 25, 2014

Thank you - susanlela, Sep 25, 2014

Answer 1

This use of se (se fueron) indicates "they left" as opposed to "they went / were."

This second use of se indicates reflexive usage although grammarians could agrue its usage as being reflexive or not. It really differentiates between a person staying / being in a certain place (Me quedo aquí) and other usages somewhat idiomatic such as: Me quedan sólo cien pesos (I have only one hundred pesos left), ¿En qué quedamos? (What do we agree to), etc, etc, etc.

Hablar has no reason for se , It means only to talk / speak and is not used as reflexive.

Thank you - susanlela, Sep 25, 2014

Rey is right, we say "se habla", this is passive voice. We could also say "se hablan uno con el otro" (they are talking among themselves) this is pronominal use of "se" but these usages are not in the context of your question - 005faa61, Sep 26, 2014

Answer 2

se habla means is spoken as in se habla español

se fue means he/she left. without the se it means he/she went

se quedaron means they stayed.

:) - ian-hill, Sep 25, 2014

Thank you - susanlela, Sep 25, 2014

your welcome - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 25, 2014