Pronouns in Spanish- SE

After reading the posts in a thread this week, once again it made me realize the complexities of Spanish grammar and to remember not to take my understanding for granted. Actually, understanding grammar well in any language is a gift worthy of recognition.

The OP asked the meaning of a phrase from a song La foto se me borró and the posts to follow reveals everyone's need to fortify their grammatical strength in Spanish. If I really felt it would be to my benefit, I would participate in the thread. However, past experience in other threads has taught me otherwise. It's just not worth battling grammatical points with people of various levels of knowledge.

One aspect about the pronoun SE in Spanish is that it does not only indicate reflexive usage. In advanced grammar studies verbs that have a transitive form and a form with SE are called pronominal verbs which is the correct term because the meaning is not always reflexive. The usage and meaning of SE can be divided into at least ten grammatical categories.

For example:

lavar= transitive verb that takes a direct object (Lavo mi carro)
lavarse= reflexive form (the doer and receiver of the action is the same person) (Yo) me lavo

BUT

Ir= to go
Irse= to go away or leave (this is not a reflexive verb form but rather a pronominal from of the verb ir). The 'se' changes the meaning of the verb. There's no reflexive meaning.

Comer= to eat
Comerse= the meaning is emphatic and not reflexive (also considered more colloquial)

Olvidar= transitive verb (olvido mis libros una vez a la semana)
Olvidarse (de) = 'se' emotivo. More responsibility taken on the part of the speaker however, there's no change in meaning. This form requires the preposition de. (me olvido de traer mis libros una vez a la semana).

There are many more examples of verbs that have a form with SE but are not reflexive. This is an important grammar concept to understand.

The OP's example is one in the category called el SE para acciones inesperadas. La foto se me borró. (o se me borró la foto - which is what I prefer to say). This translates as 'I erased the photo' (unintentionally).

The first step is understanding pronouns in Spanish which means all pronouns, direct, indirect, reflexive, prepositional etc. The second step is focusing on SE only and realizing not all SE constructions mean the verb form is reflexive.

I reiterate proper studies enables one to understand these specific concepts at a higher level.


-ldg.