Normal verb without pronominal counterpart

Question

How many normal verbs are there without pronominal or reflexive counterpart? Have they categorized in grammar books? I know one verb that it has this property: "gustar". we don't have "gustarse" in dictionary.

Do you know other verbs?

Answer 1

I am not speaking with any kind of expertise, merely as beginner who has spent a lot of time trying to understand and puzzling over these things.

"Gustar" is not reflexive. This website describes "gustar" as a back-to-front verb--although that is probably not a formal linguistic term. "Back-to-front" because the subject of the verb comes after the verb, and the object comes before, Hence in "Me gusta el perro," the dog is the subject and "me" is the object. It translates literally as "The dog (subj) is pleasing to me (obj), which, for simplicity is perceived as "I like the dog".

Here is the Spanishdict reference page on "gustar-like" (back-to-front) verbs: gustar.

In your example, I think "No me gusto" as a sentence means "I do not like me"--I guess you might hear this on Sesame Street in a song about self-esteem or something.

Answer 2

@Jubilado I think your answer a little impolite! i guess you make me funny! I am beginner of learning Spanish. I thought maybe there are some limited verbs that are important to learn.

For others that they like this topic:

I saw in the internet "no me gusto". But according to dictionary there isn't any reflexive or pronominal counterpart. could anybody explain this?

I'm sorry that you thought it impolite. I am not making fun of you. I cannot explain your question. I hope someone else does. Good luck! - Jubilado, Oct 25, 2014

No problem. thanks. - arnoldsg72, Oct 25, 2014

Answer 3

In my opinion you are making a category that has no value in learning Spanish. Relevant to your post there are three things you need to know:

1 The reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, and os (se is used for singular and plural).

2 How to conjugate verbs: a long and tedious process as you learn.

3 Understanding the meaning of "reflexive", "pronomial", and "passive voice".

I have a book: 4,500 Spanish Verbs fully conjugated! / Complete Handbook of Spanish Verbs / The most complete reference available, Passport Books, 1988 printing. In this book is an alphabetical list of the 4,500 verbs some of which have "se" attached to the end. Would you want to look through these and pick out the ones with "se"? I'm telling you politely, I do not, thank you.

:) - rac1, Oct 25, 2014

Answer 4

@Jacky658

thanks for answering and introducing verbs like gustar.

According to this link, "Yo no me gusto" or "no me gusto" means "I don't like myself ".

But i think it is fault from English grammar view.

In the other hand maybe it is easier to say "I hate myself" equivalently.