reflexive with imperative

Benjamin H.A1Kwiziq community member

reflexive with imperative

Así pues, si tengo - atreverse alguien a hacer algo - to dare someone to do something. 

How would I say: I dare you to do this - because it's atreverse you have to say me for me and then te for you? for example te atreveme a hacer esto. But it doesn't make sense because it's like the other person is daring me but in fact it's me daring the person. te atrave a hacer esto I think is better but then what about the 'me' because it's reflexive.

Asked 3 years ago
InmaKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hola Benjamin

The verb atreverse a hacer algo is used as a reflexive verb, not like in English when you say "to dare someone to do something",(not reflexive), therefore you have for example:

As a question when you want to ask someone if they dare do something:

¿Te atreves a saltar?

Do you (would you) dare jump off?

If you say you don't dare do something:

No me atrevo a saltar. Hay mucha altura.

I don't dare jump off. It's too high.

If you want to dare someone the way kids do as in "I dare you to go and ring that door bell" you would then say in Spanish:

¿A que no te atreves a ir y llamar a esa puerta?

Still using it as a reflexive.

The difference is that in English you use a direct object pronoun that reflects the person being dared: I dare you...

With an imperative you will find the reflexive pronoun attached to the verb if it is an affirmative command:

¡Venga, atrévete!

Come on, do it [be brave]! 

¡No te atrevas! 

Don't you dare!

I hope this clarifies it. It is a tricky verb to learn because it is very different to the use of dare in English.

Saludos

Inma

Marsha C.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I would keep it simple and just use the verb retar which means to dare. So I dare you to eat the cake would be te reto a comer la tarta

reflexive with imperative

Así pues, si tengo - atreverse alguien a hacer algo - to dare someone to do something. 

How would I say: I dare you to do this - because it's atreverse you have to say me for me and then te for you? for example te atreveme a hacer esto. But it doesn't make sense because it's like the other person is daring me but in fact it's me daring the person. te atrave a hacer esto I think is better but then what about the 'me' because it's reflexive.

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