Pónte trabajar

Question

Today I heard a parent tell a child "pónte trabajar" which I think means "get to work". That is a construction I had not heard before. Are there other commands like "pónte dormir" for "get to sleep"?

Answer 1

Ponte a trabajar is one of these nasty "reflexive" constructions that give English-speaking learners "dolores de cabeza". I might be able to give you a virtual aspirin here. (By the way there is an a that goes in there.)

Spanish uses a lot of these. I will try to think of a few.

First. Your phrase, in word for word English is" "Put yourself to work" or "Get to work."

Pon is the familar imperative (command) form of ** poner** the te is yourself "a" is a preposition which is not translated into English. I tell my students, "It really doesn't mean anything it just has to be there It is only necessary after some verbs, such as "poner" when followed by an infinitive such as "trabajar".

"trabajar" means to work.

Some similar constructions"

Lávate las manos. Wash yourself the hands. English speakers say "Wash your hands."

Cepíllate los dientes. Brush yourself the teeth. or Brush your teeth.

Ponte la camisa. Put on yourself the shirt. or Put on your shirt.

If my friend sanlee see this she will probably give you a half dozen links to help you further.

Buena suerte.

Gracias - zeldasmomaz, Jan 20, 2015

De nada Zelda. - Daniela2041, Jan 20, 2015

Answer 2

Hola Zelda

I think Dani and Falda's explanations are great, but here are some links. Here is a link to the reflexive grammar section on this site There are also grammar tests on site

reflexive on SD

reflexive verbs - Study Spanish

Reflexive verb chart - Conjugemos

Reflexive verbs Rocket Language

Reflexive verbs grammar practice

reflexive verbs about com

Thank you the links. This is a weak area for me. - zeldasmomaz, Jan 20, 2015

Answer 3

As Dani indicates, this is comparable with English idiomatic expressions that use, for example, 'put' + 'reflexive pronoun'.

These are perhaps not so common in English nowadays, but still correct albeit slightly old-sounding, e.g.

• I put myself to bed = I went to bed
• I put / set myself to task / work = I started work

Reflexive pronouns are also still used in some English imperative idioms, although largely optional & the position of the pronoun may vary (& is also often option), e.g.

• Get away from there = Get you away from there = You, get away from there

Where I live, one might also say simply 'Get you', which means all of the above (although it has to be stated in an imperative tone, otherwise, if spoken affectionately, it has the sense of 'Well done' (which is a little bizarre, frankly)).