Use of "se" in Passive Constructions. (Unexpected Events.)
Use of “se” in Passive Constructions. (Unexpected Events)
We do this in English all the time. For instance when we have forgotten something, we say that something “slipped my mind.”
If we lose our keys, we say, “My keys got lost.” When we drop something instead of admitting that we dropped something we say, “It slipped out of my hand.” Se me cayó in Spanish.
In Spanish we do similar things. There is a construction that goes like this:
“Se” + indirect object pronoun + verb (usually in the preterit) + the subject of the verb.
For “I forgot to bring my book.” would be “It slipped my mind to bring my book.”
In Spanish. “Se me olvidó traer mi libro.”
If Pedro loses his keys we say about him. His keys got lost. “Se le perdieron las llaves.”
Did you forget to bring me a gift for my birthday? Did it slip your mind to bring me a gift for my birthday?
¿Se te olvidó traerme un regalo para mi cumpleaños?
There was a question regarding these constructions wherein one of the sentences was Me estoy perdiendo la voz. which means I am losing my voice. –literally I am losing (to myself) the voice.” which is a reflexive construction.
Using the “se + indirect object + verb + subject” construction, it could have been.
“Se me está perdiendo la voz.” which would translate more or less, “My voice is giving out on me.”
There is probably more on this in the grammar section on SD.
2 Answers
Se me rompió.
My car broke down.
Se me se ha ido, he perdido la cabeza
My mind is gone,I've lost my mind.
