Ir vs irse: Reference article by Lazarus (with examples)
This question pops up all the time, this is the longer version, with example sentences, there is a shorter one here, both created by Lazarus.
Reference article created by "Lazarus"
“Ir” (To Go) vs “Irse” (to Leave)
.............(Think of them as different verbs.)................
These should be treated as two different verbs. In terms of the origin of words, the one verb may have evolved from the other, but, the verbs have different meanings and uses.
..................................Facts About "Ir" and "Irse"....................................
Ir = To go, to go to
Irse = To leave, to leave from.
"Ir" is an irregularly conjugated verb. It is not idiomatic, not pronominal and not a reflexive verb. "Ir" makes no use of reflexive pronouns.
"Irse" is an idiomatic pronominal verb. While "irse" shares the reflexive pronouns, me, te, se, nos, os, and se, it is not a reflexive verb
"Ir" requires a destination. The destination may be clearly stated or may simply be implied. It is said that "ir" focuses on the destination. No starting point needs to be stated or implied
"Irse" requires neither a starting point nor a destination. The starting point for "irse" is always presumed to be here or there where the subject is at the time. "Irse" is focused on the starting point.
When "ir" is used, a starting point may optionally be stated. Even so, the focus or emphasis of "ir" is on the destination.When using "irse", a destination may optionally be stated. Even so, the focus or emphasis of "irse" is the act of leaving or going away.
"Ir" is used with prepositions like "a", "hacia" and "hasta" as references to a destination. It is also used to indicate a mode of transportation as in "en tren" or "a pie".
"Irse" is used with prepositions like "de" or "desde" as references to a starting point
You will be familiar with using "the informal future" which is formed by the verb "ir" plus "a" and the infinitive of another verb. Commonly referred to as "ir + a + infinitive."
"Es mediodía. Voy a almorzar pronto."
(It's noon. I'm going to lunch soon.)
Look at this example:
¿Cuando salgo de la sala , cuál es la despedida correcta, 'Tengo que ir.' o, 'Tengo que irme.'?"
(When I exit the room, which is correct for my farewell, 'I have to go' or 'I have to leave'?")
"Tengo que ir" is incorrect. It is a lot like saying "Necesito." In either case a listener would be left to wonder "Tengo que ir....Where?" or "Necesito....What?"
Either sentence is incomplete because no destination on the one hand or object in the other sentence has been specified.
"Tengo que irme.", there is no need to identify where you are going.
If you wish to give a reason for exiting, you might say either
"Tengo que ir a cenar" where the focus is now on your destination, or "Tengo que irme a la escuela.", where the focus is still on leaving but you have offerred a reason for leaving.
1) Using "irse".
"Me voy" ("I'm leaving").
"Me voy al bar." ("I'm leaving for the bar").
In both these examples, the focus or emphasis is on the act of leaving. In the second case the optional identification of a destination is there, but, the focus is still on leaving.
2) Use of prepositions de or a:
"Me voy de Madrid" ("I'm leaving from Madrid").
"Me voy a Madrid" ("I'm leaving for Madrid").
In these two examples of leaving, you can see the effect that the preposition "a" or "de" has on the translation.
3) "Ir" with a destination only.
"Siempre vamos al cine los viernes." (We always go to the movie theatre on Fridays.")
A destination, the cinema, is stated but there is no information about any starting point.
4) "Ir" with a destination and starting point.
"Vamos de Madrid a Segovia." (We are going from Madrid to Segovia') The focus is on going to a destination but a starting point has optionally been given.
Example sentences:
IR
¿dónde van los calcetines? --> where do the socks go? (deber colocarse)
¿se enfadó? — ¡qué va! --> did she get angry? — not at all!
el verde no te va bien --> green doesn't suit you (sentar bien, convenir)
te irá bien un descanso --> a rest will do you good (sentar bien, convenir)
¡que te vaya bien! --> all the best!, take care! (desarrollarse)
¡que te vaya bien (en) la entrevista! --> good luck in the interview (desarrollarse)
¿cómo les fue en Egipto? --> how was Egypt?, how did you get on in Egypt? (desarrollarse)
me fue mal/bien en el examen --> I did badly/well in the exam (desarrollarse)
¿cómo va el nuevo trabajo? --> how's the new job going? (desarrollarse)
va de mal en peor --> it's going from bad to worse (desarrollarse)
iban de largo --> they wore long dresses (refiriéndose al atuendo)
voy a ir de Batman --> I'm going to go as Batman (refiriéndose al atuendo)
iba de rojo --> she was dressed in red (refiriéndose al atuendo)
voy ganando yo --> I'm ahead, I'm winning (en competiciones)
¿todavía vas por la capítulo 2? --> are you still in chapter 2? (en el desarollo de algo)
ya van cinco veces que te lo digo --> this is the fifth time I've told you (sumar)
con este van diez --> ten, counting this one (sumar)
tírame la pelota — ¡allá va! --> throw me the ball — here you are o there you go! (arrojarse)
corre por aquí — ¡allá voy! --> run over here! — here I go/come! (arrojarse)
no iba con mala intención --> it wasn't meant unkindly (comentario)
eso va por ti también --> that goes for you too, and the same goes for you (comentario)
voy a clases de piano --> I go to piano lessons (asistir)
ya va al colegio --> she's already at school (asistir)
iban hablando por el camino --> they talked as they went along (sin énfasis en el movimiento)
¿van cómodos? --> are you comfortable? (sin énfasis en el movimiento)
íbamos sentados --> we were sitting down (sin énfasis en el movimiento)
vas muy cargada --> you have a lot to carry (sin énfasis en el movimiento)
yo iba a la cabeza --> I was in the lead (sin énfasis en el movimiento)
poco a poco irá aprendiendo --> she'll learn little by little (expresando un proceso paulatino)
ya puedes ir haciéndote a la idea --> you'd better get used to the idea (expresando un proceso paulatino)
el tiempo ha ido mejorando --> the weather has been getting better and better (proceso paulatino)
.
IRSE
¿por qué te vas tan temprano? --> why are you leaving so soon?
vámonos --> let's go
bueno, me voy --> right then, I'm taking off (AmE) o (BrE) I'm off
no te vayas --> don't go
vete a la cama --> go to bed
se fue de casa/de la empresa --> she left home/the company
vete de aquí --> get out of here
se han ido de viaje --> they're away, they've gone away
¡cómo se va el dinero! --> I don't know where the money goes! (consumirse, gastarse)
se me va medio sueldo en el alquiler --> half my salary goes on the rent (consumirse, gastarse)
se ha ido la luz --> the electricityhas gone off (desaparecer)
¿se te ha ido el dolor de cabeza? --> has your headache gone? (desaparecer)
se le está yendo el aire al globo --> the balloon's losing air o going down (desaparecer)
irse de boca/espaldas --> to fall flat on one's face/back (caerse)
me iba para atrás --> I was falling backwards (caerse)
frenó y nos fuimos todos para adelante --> he braked and we all went flying forwards
2 Answers
Thank you for posting this Heidi, and for Laz for the excellent article. Remember when we had games based on these lessons? Some of them, like the preterite vs. imperfect game had hundreds of examples. Maybe it would do the forum good to resurrect or restart some of these, as there are many newer members who are probably not familiar with those wonderful threads, and some us from the "old" days......I'm thinking of myself here....continue to make the same mistakes over and over on certain sticky points.
Thank you for posting this. He is so good at teaching, and I need all the help I can get. 
