Se as 'it', le and les as direct objects

Question

I know that 'se' can be reflexive ('me lavo' or 'te vistes'). It can be used to say that people are doing something to or with one another (such as 'se pelearon' or 'se besaron'), but I'm confused as to when it doesn't refer to people.

Such as this example from a popcorn bag which I think 'se' might refer to the bag and not the person handling it: "Manéjese con cuidado; la bolsa y el aceite ¡están muy calientes!"

To me this sentence reads: "Handle to you it with caution/care; the bag and the oil are very hot!" Does it mean this? And if so, why? If it doesn't, what is an easy way to remember the use of 'se' here? When does say mean 'it' or 'itself' and how can I remember that usage?

I also read that le and les can be used as direct objects which means that they would function something like los/las/lo/la, but how would that work?

I hope this question make sense and what I see actually exists haha

Answer 1

Se has many uses, but this one means yourself, it is pronominal

"Manéjese con cuidado; la bolsa y el aceite ¡están muy calientes!" Manéjese here is a Usted command.

Manage yourself with care- the bag and the oil are very hot.

An example not referring to a person follows:

Se prohibe fumar- smoking prohibits itself (some would argue with thinking of it this way, because this really is passive/impersonal se)= smoking is prohibited

Le when used as a direct object in place of lo is leísmo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leísmo

Leísmo is not as common with les replacing los. It is not ever used for la or las.

Le and les are normal indirect objects. For masculine or feminine indirect objects.

Thank you :) So what would you say the categories of 'se' are besides reflexive? And is pronomial the same as reflexive? - LaHeroína, Feb 23, 2017

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100859/transitive-and-intransitive-constructions-use-of-se-by-lazarus#.WK47COs76rU - bosquederoble, Feb 23, 2017

All reflexive uses are pronominal but not all pronominal uses are reflexive. The above link is by a true master of Spanish grammar, and a native speaker. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 23, 2017

Answer 2

I see the phrase as "You should handle with care because the oil...." "Manejar" is transitive and it needs an object. The object in this case is the bag, so it could be written, "Maneje con cuidado la bolsa porque el aceite....". But, that's too much of a mouthful.

Wouldn't handle it with care be Manéjela- handle it. The se would seem to me to reflect back on the person the command is directed at. If it were indicative I could see it as passive se, with the se being the bag, but it is a command. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 23, 2017