One thing that I have noticed about Spanish reflexive verbs is that when you use a non-reflexive verb when you should have used a reflexive verb, you can completely change the meaning of what you intended to say – and vice versa.

Reflexive Verbs and Nonreflexive Verbs in Spanish

Here’s one example that happens with the verb “deshacer.”

“deshacerse de” means to get rid of.

Entonces (then) . . .

Ella va a deshacerse de su ropa vieja.
She is going to get rid of her old clothes.

Pero “deshacer” means to undo or to cut into pieces.

Voy a deshacer todos mis errores.
I am going to undo (correct) all of my errors.

How To Say To Make Someone Fall in Love In Spanish

Now here’s an example that happens with the verb “enamorar.”

“enamorar a alguien” means to make someone fall in love.

Estoy seguro que voy a enamorar a Lina.
I am sure that I am going to make Lina fall in love.

How To Say To Fall in Love In Spanish

But “enamorarse de” means to fall in love:

Voy a enamorarme de Monica.
I am going to fall in love with Monica.

By the way, on more than one occasion I have heard a native English speaker in Colombia say something like “Voy a enamorarme con ella” or “me voy a enamorar con ella.” This is absolutely WRONG. In Spanish you must you the preposition “de” (“of”) with the verb “enamorarse” — unlike in English where we use the preposition “with” (“con”) with the verb “love.”

So the correct way to say that phrase would be “Voy a enamorarme de ella” or “me voy a enamorar de ella” — which means “I’m going to fall in love with her.”

Here’s another example of a verb that can be reflexive and that confuses a lot of native English speakers.

The verb “acordar.”

Acordar means to agree.

Ayer acordamos que no ibamos a pelear.
Yesterday we agreed that we were not going to fight.

Reflexive Verbs and Nonreflexive Verbs in Spanish

Pero “acordarse de” means to remember or the same as the Spanish verb “recordar.”

Me acuerdo de la cita.
I remember the appointment.

So this concludes Part 2 on the topic of Reflexive Verbs and Non-reflexive Verbs in Spanish.

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