Read Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish Online
Authors: Margarita Madrigal
Tags: #Reference, #Language Arts & Disciplines
Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Write out each sentence in Spanish, using the columns above as a guide. Check your sentences with the correct translations below this exercise.
Check your sentences with the translations below.
1. “Ponerse a” means “to start to” (
to put yourself to
). It is used with the infinitive.
Me puse a cantar.
I started to sing
.
Se puso a llorar.
He started to cry
.
Se pusieron a trabajar.
They started to work
.
“Ponerse” also means “to become” (
to get
) when it is followed by an adjective.
Se puso furioso.
He got furious. He became furious
.
Se puso pálido.
He got pale. He became pale
.
2. Sometimes reflexive pronouns are used instead of a subject.
EXAMPLES
:
Se habla español.
Spanish is spoken
.
Se permite.
It is permitted, allowed
.
Se prohibe.
It is prohibited, forbidden
.
Se necesita una criada.
Wanted, a maid (A maid is needed
).
The above sentences do not state who speaks, permits, needs, etc. Therefore the reflexive pronoun is used. These expressions are not frequently used in conversation. You’ll find them mostly in signs such as “Se prohibe fumar” (
Smoking is forbidden
) or in newspaper ads such as “Se necesita una criada” (
Maid wanted
).
3. The reflexive is also used in what we call reciprocal action, that is, when people do things to each other.
Se besaron.
They kissed each other
.
Nos vemos.
We see each other
.
Se parecen.
They resemble each other
.
No se hablan.
They don’t speak to each other
.
Se comprenden.
They understand each other
.