- Understand how reflexive pronouns can change verb meanings completely
- Master five key verb pairs: ir/irse, dormir/dormirse, acordar/acordarse, quedar/quedarse, parecer/parecerse
- Recognise when reflexive forms signal a change of state or departure
- Apply the correct prepositions with acordarse (de) and parecerse (a)
- Avoid common mix-ups in conversation
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📖Extension to: Reflexive VerbsBeginner
Reflexive Verbs that Change Meaning
How adding 'se' transforms ir, dormir, acordar, quedar & parecer
What You'll Learn
Overview
In Spanish, adding the reflexive pronoun "se" to a verb doesn't just mean the action is done to oneself -it can completely change the verb's meaning. Understanding these transformations is crucial for expressing yourself accurately.
While many reflexive verbs simply mean you're doing something to yourself (like lavarse = to wash oneself), some verbs take on entirely different meanings when they become reflexive.
Key Insight: Think of reflexive pronouns as sometimes acting like "aspectual markers" -they can signal a change of state, emphasis on the action's completion, or a shift in meaning rather than just indicating the subject acts on themselves.
ir → irse
to go → to leave
dormir → dormirse
to sleep → to fall asleep
acordar → acordarse
to agree → to remember
quedar → quedarse
to meet → to stay
parecer → parecerse
to seem → to resemble
Deep Dive
1. Ir vs Irse - To Go vs To Leave
Rule: Ir focuses on movement toward a destination, while irse emphasizes departure from the current location.
Ir - To Go
Destination focus
Voy al cine
I'm going to the cinema
Vamos a la playa
We're going to the beach
Irse - To Leave
Departure focus
Me voy ahora
I'm leaving now
¿Ya te vas?
Are you leaving already?
2. Dormir vs Dormirse - To Sleep vs To Fall Asleep
Rule: Dormir describes the act or state of sleeping, while dormirse captures the transition from awake to asleep.
Dormir - To Sleep
The state/action of sleeping
Duermo ocho horas
I sleep eight hours
El bebé está durmiendo
The baby is sleeping
Dormirse - To Fall Asleep
The transition moment
Me dormí a las diez
I fell asleep at ten
Se durmió en el sofá
He fell asleep on the sofa
3. Acordar vs Acordarse (de) - To Agree vs To Remember
Rule: Acordar means reaching an agreement, while acordarse means to remember. Note: acordarse takes de.
Acordar - To Agree
To decide together
Acordamos reunirnos mañana
We agreed to meet tomorrow
Acordaron el precio
They agreed on the price
Acordarse (de) - To Remember
Requires preposition "de"
Me acuerdo de ti
I remember you
¿Te acuerdas de la fiesta?
Do you remember the party?
4. Quedar vs Quedarse - To Meet/Remain vs To Stay
Rule: Quedar can mean "to remain" or "to arrange to meet," while quedarse emphasizes staying in one place.
Quedar - To Meet/Remain
Multiple meanings
Quedamos a las tres
We're meeting at three
Quedan dos días
Two days remain
Quedarse - To Stay
Staying in place deliberately
Me quedo en casa
I'm staying home
¿Te quedas o te vas?
Are you staying or leaving?
5. Parecer vs Parecerse (a) - To Seem vs To Resemble
Rule: Parecer expresses opinion or appearance (seems), while parecerse means physical resemblance. Note: parecerse takes a.
Parecer - To Seem
Opinion or appearance
Parece difícil
It seems difficult
¿Qué te parece?
What do you think?
Parecerse (a) - To Resemble
Requires preposition "a"
Me parezco a mi madre
I look like my mother
Se parecen mucho
They look very similar
Examples
Non-Reflexive Forms
Ir
Voy a la tienda
I'm going to the store
Dormir
Duermo ocho horas cada noche
I sleep eight hours each night
Acordar
Acordamos vernos el lunes
We agreed to meet on Monday
Quedar
Quedan tres días
Three days remain
Parecer
Parece que va a llover
It seems like it's going to rain
Reflexive Forms
Irse
Me voy ahora mismo
I'm leaving right now
Dormirse
Me dormí en el sofá
I fell asleep on the sofa
Acordarse
No me acordé de la cita
I didn't remember the appointment
Quedarse
Me quedé en casa enfermo
I stayed home sick
Parecerse
Te pareces mucho a tu padre
You look a lot like your father
Practice Scenarios
See how both forms work together in realistic contexts:
Going vs Leaving
Voy a la tienda pero mi hermano se va a casa.
I'm going to the store but my brother is leaving (to go) home.
Sleeping vs Falling Asleep
Normalmente duermo bien, pero anoche me dormí muy tarde.
I normally sleep well, but last night I fell asleep very late.
Agreeing vs Remembering
Acordamos vernos el lunes, pero no me acordé de la cita.
We agreed to see each other on Monday, but I didn't remember the appointment.
Meeting vs Staying
Quedamos en el café, pero yo me quedé en casa porque estaba enfermo.
We arranged to meet at the café, but I stayed home because I was sick.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✗ Yo voy ahora (when you mean "I'm leaving")
✓ Me voy ahora
Use irse when emphasizing departure, not destination
✗ Acuerdo tu nombre (to remember)
✓ Me acuerdo de tu nombre
Don't forget the reflexive pronoun AND the preposition de
✗ Dormí tarde (when you mean "fell asleep late")
✓ Me dormí tarde
Dormí tarde could mean "I slept late" (woke up late), not "fell asleep late"
✗ Me parezco mi madre
✓ Me parezco a mi madre
Parecerse requires the preposition a
Memory Tip
Reflexive forms often emphasise transitions, departures, or personal connection:
- Irse = leaving (transition from here to elsewhere)
- Dormirse = falling asleep (transition from awake to asleep)
- Acordarse = remembering (personal mental connection)
- Quedarse = staying put (personal choice to remain)
- Parecerse = resembling (personal physical connection)
