More Verbs That Change Meaning When Used Reflexively
Most of the time, if you know the usual meaning of a verb, it's obvious what it means when it is used reflexively. However, sometimes, as explained in our lesson on verbs that change meaning in the reflexive form, the difference isn't always predictable.
Following are some more verbs, most of them less common than those listed in that lesson, that can change meaning, sometimes dramatically so, in the reflexive form.
Not all possible meanings are shown, and sometimes the reflexive meanings given here are in addition to the meanings you might expect based on the meaning of the verb in its nonreflexive form:
abonar (to pay), abonarse (to subscribe, as to a publication, or to buy a season ticket): Hoy nos abonó los $200. Today he paid us the $200. Este año no me abono al futbol porque estoy muy desencantado con el equipo. This year I'm not getting a season soccer ticket because I'm very disenchanted with the team.
acordar (to agree or decide), acordarse (to remember): Acordamos que tenemos que trabajar juntos por la unidad del partido. We agree that we have to work together for the unity of the party. Claro que sí nos acordamos de ti. Of course we remember you.
desenvolver (to open or unwrap), desenvolverse (to do well at a task): Desenvolvió el regalo, y se sorprendió al ver un aparato muy raro. She opened the gift, and she was surprised to see a very unusual appliance. Estoy en busca de empleo. Me desenvuelvo en muchos campos.
I'm in search of employment. I'm skillful in many fields.
empeñar (to pawn an item or go into debt), empeñarse, especially when followed by en (to strive): El celular lo empeñé y me dieron 500 pesos por él. I pawned my cellphone and they gave me 500 pesos for it. Me empeño en ganar en solitario. I am trying to win in solitaire.
enterar (to inform or notify), enterarse (to learn or find out): Me enteraron que algunos policías intentaron meterse a la casa de mi madre. They informed me that some police tried to enter my mother's house. Hasta ahora no me entero que tienes un nieto. Until now I didn't know you have a grandson.
estar (to be), estarse (to stay): Las camisas están en la lavandería. The shirts are at the laundry. Me estoy en casa de Penny. I am staying at Penny's house.
gastar (to spend), gastarse (to run down or wear out): No voy a gastar 1.000 pesos por un juego que tenga lag. I'm not going to spend 1,000 pesos for a game that has lag. Se gastaron las pastillas de freno. The brake pads wore out.
negar (to deny), negarse (to refuse a request): El secretario de defensa de EE.UU. negó que la base chilena sea operada por sus militares para entrenar a militares chilenos. The U.S. defense secretary denied that the Chilean base will be operated by its military in order to train the Chilean military. El atleta se negó a dormir en una habitacion de 1.000 euros la noche. The athlete refused to sleep in a 1,000-euro-per-night room.
relevar (to relieve, to replace, to exempt), relevarse (to take turns): El gobierno relevó a 25 jefes policiales antidrogas. The government relieved 25 anti-drug police of their duties. La única solución es que nos relevemos. The only solution is that we take turns.
Following are some more verbs, most of them less common than those listed in that lesson, that can change meaning, sometimes dramatically so, in the reflexive form.
Not all possible meanings are shown, and sometimes the reflexive meanings given here are in addition to the meanings you might expect based on the meaning of the verb in its nonreflexive form:
abonar (to pay), abonarse (to subscribe, as to a publication, or to buy a season ticket): Hoy nos abonó los $200. Today he paid us the $200. Este año no me abono al futbol porque estoy muy desencantado con el equipo. This year I'm not getting a season soccer ticket because I'm very disenchanted with the team.
acordar (to agree or decide), acordarse (to remember): Acordamos que tenemos que trabajar juntos por la unidad del partido. We agree that we have to work together for the unity of the party. Claro que sí nos acordamos de ti. Of course we remember you.
desenvolver (to open or unwrap), desenvolverse (to do well at a task): Desenvolvió el regalo, y se sorprendió al ver un aparato muy raro. She opened the gift, and she was surprised to see a very unusual appliance. Estoy en busca de empleo. Me desenvuelvo en muchos campos.
I'm in search of employment. I'm skillful in many fields.
empeñar (to pawn an item or go into debt), empeñarse, especially when followed by en (to strive): El celular lo empeñé y me dieron 500 pesos por él. I pawned my cellphone and they gave me 500 pesos for it. Me empeño en ganar en solitario. I am trying to win in solitaire.
enterar (to inform or notify), enterarse (to learn or find out): Me enteraron que algunos policías intentaron meterse a la casa de mi madre. They informed me that some police tried to enter my mother's house. Hasta ahora no me entero que tienes un nieto. Until now I didn't know you have a grandson.
estar (to be), estarse (to stay): Las camisas están en la lavandería. The shirts are at the laundry. Me estoy en casa de Penny. I am staying at Penny's house.
gastar (to spend), gastarse (to run down or wear out): No voy a gastar 1.000 pesos por un juego que tenga lag. I'm not going to spend 1,000 pesos for a game that has lag. Se gastaron las pastillas de freno. The brake pads wore out.
negar (to deny), negarse (to refuse a request): El secretario de defensa de EE.UU. negó que la base chilena sea operada por sus militares para entrenar a militares chilenos. The U.S. defense secretary denied that the Chilean base will be operated by its military in order to train the Chilean military. El atleta se negó a dormir en una habitacion de 1.000 euros la noche. The athlete refused to sleep in a 1,000-euro-per-night room.
relevar (to relieve, to replace, to exempt), relevarse (to take turns): El gobierno relevó a 25 jefes policiales antidrogas. The government relieved 25 anti-drug police of their duties. La única solución es que nos relevemos. The only solution is that we take turns.