23.7 The intensifying reflexive
Several non-reflexive verbs have reflexive counterparts which are similar in meaning,
but which express a slightly different nuance often associated with greater intensity.
Unfortunately, since each verb behaves slightly differently, no very general principle
can be given. Here are some common examples:caer‘to fall’ (neutral, natural process) caerse‘to fall’ (some idea of
reference to a starting point of
falling, suddenness or accidental
nature of fall)
La lluvia cayó. El niño se cayó de la silla.
The rain fell. The child fell from the chair.
El avión cayó en el desierto. La torre se cayó.
The aeroplane crashed in the desert. The tower fell down.
Se me cayó un libro.
I dropped a book.comer‘to eat’ (neutral) comerse‘to eat (up)’
¿Qué vamos a comer? El león se comió toda la carne.
What shall we have to eat? The lion ate up all the meat.
dormir‘to sleep’ dormirse‘to go to sleep’
Anoche no dormí más de tres horas. Finalmente, a las ocho, María se
Last night I only slept for three hours. durmió.
Finally, at eight o’clock, María
went to sleep.ir‘to go’ irse‘to go (off)’, with a sense of
movement away from
Esta noche voy al cine. ¡Vete!
I’m going to the cinema tonight. Go away!
Se fue a Madrid.
He/she went (off) to Madrid.
morir‘to die’ (especially as the result of
accident, war, etc.)morirse‘to die’ (as a natural
process; also figuratively)
Murieron muchos jóvenes en la Guerra Civil.
Many young men died in the Civil War.Se me murió el tío hace dos
años.
My uncle died two years ago.
Martín se muere por saber si ha
aprobado.
Martín’s dying to know if he’s
passed.
quedar‘to remain’, though often simply ‘to be’ quedarse‘to stay’
No me queda mucho dinero. Me voy a quedar dos meses.
I haven’t much money left. (lit. ‘not much
money remains to me’)I’m going to stay for two months.No sé si queda muy claro.
I don’t know if it’s very clear.THE REFLEXIVE 23.7