grammar.verbs.reflexive-meaning-change

When se changes the meaning: ir/irse, dormir/dormirse

Adding se shifts the sense: ir (go) / irse (leave), dormir (sleep) / dormirse (fall asleep), quedar (arrange/be located) / quedarse (stay), llevar (carry) / llevarse (take away).

grammarB1Reviewedv0.1.0

Explanation

Pairs to know: ir/irse, dormir/dormirse, quedar/quedarse, llevar/llevarse, poner/ponerse (put / put on, become), volver/volverse (return / turn around, become), comer/comerse (eat / eat up entirely).

The se often adds completion, change of state, or departure. With food and drink it signals finishing the whole thing: se comió toda la pizza.

The added se rarely means a literal 'to oneself'; more often it signals departure, change of state, or completion. That is why irse is 'to leave (go away)', dormirse is 'to fall asleep' (cross into sleep), ponerse + adjective is 'to become', and comerse/beberse stress polishing off the whole thing.

Examples

Me voy; ya es tarde.
I'm leaving; it's late.

Region: global

El niño se durmió en el auto.
The kid fell asleep in the car.

Region: global

Me voy ya; anoche me dormí en el sofá y me bebí todo el café.
I'm leaving now; last night I fell asleep on the sofa and drank up all the coffee.

Region: global

Related rules