Kangi Time

Kangi Time

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Reflexives (intransitive etc.)

In Spanish, these intransitive constructions frequently employ the reflexive form.
The sun dried the clothes. (transitive)
El sol secó la ropa.
The clothes dried in the sun. (intransitive)
La ropa se secó al sol.
For some verbs, the meaning changes when they are used reflexively.
aburrir - to bore
aburrirse - to be bored
acordar - to agree
acordarse de - to remember
acostar - to put to bed
acostarse - to go to bed
casar - to perform a marriage ceremony
casarse con - to become married to someone
despedir - to fire
despedirse de - to say goodbye
dormir - to sleep
dormirse - to fall asleep
ir - to go
irse - to go away, to leave
morir - to die (abruptly, as of an accident, war, etc.)
morirse - to die (as from natural causes; also "to die" figuratively)
negar - to deny
negarse a - to refuse
parecer - to seem
parecerse a - to resemble
poner - to put
ponerse - to put on
probar - to try, to taste
probarse - to try on
quitar - to take away
quitarse - to take off

A few verbs are always used reflexively.
arrepentirse (e:ie) - to repent
atreverse a - to dare
darse cuenta de - to realize
jactarse de - to boast
quejarse de - to complain about
suicidarse - to commit suicide

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