The values of the SE
Usually, the study of SE, its different values and syntactic functions It usually causes great headaches for students, due to the wide typology that this linguistic element presents. From a teacher we will explain clearly and simply the SE values in Spanish classifying them into two large groups: pronominal uses (and therefore, with a syntactic function within the sentence) and non-pronominal uses (which do not perform any syntactic function).
Within each of these groups, we will point out the different types of SE exemplifying each one of them. And then... it's your turn! At the end of the article you will find some easy exercises that will serve as a review of this lesson so that you yourself learn to identify and distinguish the SE values. Cheer up!
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Particle SE with pronominal value it performs the syntactic functions of direct object (CD) or indirect object (CI). It is divided into three subtypes of SE with pronominal uses:
1. SE personal pronoun (variant of "le", "les")
When the pronouns of CI "le", "les" coincide in the same sentence with any of the other pronouns of CD "la", "lo", "las", "los", the pronoun of CI is replaced by the form SE, which generally performs the same syntactic function from CI:
- I told him yesterday (instead of * I told you yesterday).
- I gave him a gift - I gave it to him (when pronominalizing "a gift" for "lo", the form "le" is exchanged for the particle SE).
2. BE with thoughtful courage
The subject and the SE form with CD or IC function share the same referent; that is, the subject performs an action on himself. For this reason, reinforcement is allowed by adding the construction "to oneself" to the sentence:
- Pepe washes his hands - Pepe washes his hands himself.
- Lucia brushes her teeth - Lucia brushes her teeth.
3. SE with reciprocal value
Similar to SE with reflective value, the reciprocal appears when the subject of the sentence is multiple, that is, it is composed of two or more people who carry out actions together. Thus, this type of sentence admits the reinforcements "mutually", "among themselves" or "reciprocally":
- Alejandro and Maria kissed - In this example, the reciprocal pronoun SE works like CD.
- Your sister and her boyfriend text each other every day - The pronoun with reciprocal value fulfills the function of CI in this sentence.
4. SE with ethical dative value
This type of SE is characterized by being expletive, that is, it is an IC that is unnecessary, since if it is removed from the sentence, it is still grammatically correct and has meaning logical. Its function is purely expressive or emphatic and, generally, it is used in the colloquial language, accompanying verbs such as "eat", "drink", "know", etc .:
- He ate the whole bowl of lentils - We note that the statement "Ate the whole plate of lentils" is just as legal.
- He drank the juice in one gulp - The particle SE is used in this sentence to emphasize that he drank all the juice in one gulp.
Among the different values of SE we also find the one that marks the pronominal verb. Called BE pseudo-reflective, this type of SE is included in the verb and does not have a syntactic function.
The verbs that encompass this particle are called pronominal verbs (repent, dare). The particle SE cannot be commuted, in this case, by a noun phrase, nor can it be avoided, since then the meaning of the verb varies completely, so that is part of the verb and, therefore, it must be analyzed within it.
Examples of this SE value:
- My brother agreed to come home at 8pm - My brother remembered to come home at 8pm The meaning is completely different depending on whether the verb "to agree" or "to remember" is used.
- The boy put the coat in the living room - The boy put the coat in the living room ("put" / "put").
Finally, we find that another of the SE values is used as a mark of reflective passive or impersonality.
1. SE with reflective liability value
It is usually used in sentences in which the subject is unknown of the action or it is not relevant to mention it:
- Police do a lot of breathalyzer tests during Christmas - There are a lot of breathalyzer tests done during Christmas.
- My father fixes cars in this workshop - Cars are fixed in this workshop.
This type of SE does not alternate with the forms "me", "te", "nos", "os", since the verb only admits the third person singular or plural.
2. SE from impersonal reflects
This time the subject does not appear or is mentioned and the verb of the sentence can only be in the third person singular:
- It lives very well.
- An apartment is sold on this street.
This SE brings impersonality to the sentence and is usually combined with intransitive verbs or with transitive verbs with CD preceded by the preposition "a":
- You sleep little in this heat.
- The minister was summoned at twelve.