Reflexive Verb (to go)?

Question

I don't understand how this verb can have both a reflexive and non-reflexive variation. I understand reflexive verbs, it's a simple concept. I also understand how one would consider this reflexive, I just can't for whatever reason think of English sentences that would demonstate this as being reflexive and non-reflexive. I'll use Romanian as an example language to demonstate this verb: In Romanian, you have "a merge" (to go) The first-person singular conjugation being "merg". This represents "I go", "I am going", and "I do go". This is the non-reflexive form. There is also a reflexive form "a se duce". The first-person singular conjugation of this is "ma duc". This is also, "I am going"... so what's the deal? Where is one used and where is the other used? I gave a Romanian example, but I believe this is the same in Spanish, so if you know the answer in terms of Spanish, feel free to clarify.

Thank you for your answer, but it was not quite what I needed as "to leave" is a different verb with it's own representation in Romanian. I think perhaps Spanish doesn't have this problem I'm thinking of. Thank you, though.

Answer 1

Perhaps it would help to think about old usage in English to .

I went to the garden.
I betook myself to the garden.

He sat on the grass.
He sat himself down on the grass.

Or even:
I am going home.
I am going off home.

How would we explain such subtleties to a foreigner, who would no doubt translate each pair identically?

Answer 2

“Los pronombres átonos” or reflexive pronouns are concern pronouns that play the placement of direct or oblique merchandise in Spanish. finding on the form of the verb, they might go in the previous or after the verb, besides the actuality that that's extra trouble-loose and less demanding to place them in the previous the verb. the version between reflexive pronouns and reflexive verbs is puzzling even for Spanish audio gadget. in case you're saying “Me quedo en casa” you're utilising the reflexive pronoun “me” instead of a reflexive verb. whether you're utilising a reflexive pronoun, you ought to assert “ME estoy QUEDANDO en casa”. besides the shown fact that, you pick a reflexive verb which ability you upload “ME” to the verb “QUEDANDO” to assert “Estoy QUEDANDOME en casa”. Then in this casa “QUEDANDOME” is a reflexive verb. this is a sturdy lesson approximately this subject count:

Answer 3

ir- to go
irse- to leave, or go out of. (Sometimes interchangeable with salir)

Elena va al cine- Elena goes (OR is going) to the movies.

Ellos se van el teatro- They are leaving (out of) the theatre.
Also could say, 'Ellos salen del teatro'.

This concept is not so confusing as you can literally picture someone removing themself (se) or even yourself (me) from a place. The concept is a bit more confusing in the case of other reflexive verbs, referirse (to refer to), or vestirse (to dress oneself), where there is not usually an corresponding English idea of the action being done to yourself.

It's confusing sometimes, but remember you are learning a new language and you have to learn new grammatical rules and to think like speakers of that language.

Hope it helps

Answer 4

there are also reflexive verbs in french:
"aller" = go
"s'en aller" = go away -> which corresponds to the spanish "irse" and the italian "andarsene"
"S'en aller" is like -> go and take oneself away from this place.

just "aller" means that you move, that you don't stand still.
I go to school= je vais (=aller) à l'école
I leave to go to school = je m'en vais à l'école