Understanding Object Pronouns

Question

I understand that in many cases object pronouns in Spanish correspond to those in English. For example, "I love you" in Spanish is Te amo. That is simple. However, I have come across many sentences where there are object pronouns that don't seem to serve this function. Take this sentence for example: No te olvides de escribir a tus abuelos. This means, in English, "Don't forget to write to your grandparents." There seems to be no object pronoun in the English translation, so I don't see what purpose the te has in the Spanish one. Why can't it just be written as No olvides de escribir a tus abuelos? Here is another example sentence: Espero que te sientes mejor pronto. I don't see the purpose of the te.

Espero que te sientas mejor, subjunctive here is not avoidable, I fear. - annierats, Dec 31, 2015

Answer 1

No te olvides (tú) de escribirle a tus abuelos. This means, in English, "Don't (you) forget to write to your grandparents."

Would that help?

Edit:

"olvidar algo" "olvidarse de algo"

"Tienes que olvidar el pasado" (olvidar - to clear from memory)

"No te olvides de los documentos" (olvidarse de algo- to leave behind)

"Nunca se olvida de su cumpleaños" (olvidarse de algo- to forget to do something)

OK?

you are very kind today, are you not well? - annierats, Dec 28, 2015

Too funny, annie! I've noticed chileno being kind several times recently, and I've voted him up every time. :>) (Hope we're not embarrassing you, chileno. All is meant in a good way.) - AnnRon, Dec 28, 2015

Wait. I have always been nice. Thing is that mosr of the times you perceive as not being nice. See? - chileno, Dec 29, 2015

Always nice, Chilemo, I thought you were maturing to be kinder.. like me.. - annierats, Dec 29, 2015

I am almost 62 y.o. and I feel young. :^) - chileno, Dec 29, 2015

Happy Birthday and Happy New Year! You´re a mere Spring Chicken. - annierats, Dec 31, 2015

I'm near your age, chileno. Some days I feel like a spring chicken and other days like a tough old hen. - AnnRon, Dec 31, 2015

Answer 2

You state in your profile that you are "intermediate" in Spanish. That means that you have heard of reflexive verbs. The verb "Olvidarse de" is reflexive. That's why your sentence is written as "No te olvides de escribir a tus abuelos" (The "te" is the reflexive pronoun) By the way this is also a negative informal command. I don't know If you have run into these or not. All my intermediates have, as I teach college level, and we move awfully fast.

However, "olvidar" can be used non-reflexively in some cases, but not here.

"Sentirse" is another reflexive verb. So your sentence as written is also correct. The "te" is the reflexive pronoun. Whoops! It's not all correct, after espero the subjunctive is needed. "Espero que te sientas mejor pronto. I hope you know about the subjunctive. If not we have some lessons on the subjunctive on this site.

Buena suerte.

Why is it necessary for "Olvidar" to be a reflexive verb? People don't "forget" themselves, so what is "te" referring back to? Also, why are some verbs reflexive and others not? - MrDavis97, Dec 29, 2015

Answer 3

Your confusion is partially due to the unfortunate misuse of the term "reflexive". Pronominal verbs are verbs that are employed with an associated pronoun. Spanish pronominal verbs fall into four classes: reflexive, idiomatic, reciprocal, and impersonal.

Reflexive: "vestirse - to dress oneself" Idiomatic: "parecer - to seem, to appear; parecerse - to resemble Reciprocal: "mirar - to look, to watch; mirarse - to look at each other Impersonal: "Se cruza aquí" "One crosses here"

Olvidar is a difficult verb to nail down. It has three forms (some say four) as follows:

"olvidar algo" "olvidarse de algo" "olvidarse algo (Americas)

"Tienes que olvidar el pasado" (olvidar - to clear from memory) "No olvides los documentos" (olvidar - to leave behind) "Nunca se olvida de su cumpleaños" (olvidarse - to forget to do something)

I hope this helps a little

Cheers

padrín, read the edit in my entry, please. - chileno, Dec 29, 2015

Answer 4

Hola Chileno, Thank you for your comments. It would appear that using "olvidar" as a straightforward transitive verb or using the form "olvidarse de algo" owes a lot to personal style! Benjamin and Butt, "A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish" 5th edition, page 380 have as interchangeable:

"No puedo olvidarla" and "No puedo olvidarme de ella" Stating that the former version is more formal (whatever that means).

Also, Spanishdict Translation has:

"Olvidé el paraaguas en la tienda" and "Me olvidé de su cumpleaños"

I'm still not clear as to why one uses "olvidar" or "olvidarse de algo".

Any insights would be welcome.